The Eurovision Song Contest host Graham Norton has explained why he never shares a flight home with the UK act every year.
Graham, 63, first hosted the competition for the BBC in 2009, following the death of the late, great Terry Wogan.
Since then, he’s become every bit as synonymous with Eurovision as his beloved predecessor.
With Graham set to step into the voiceover booth for tonight’s grand final in Vienna, he’s shared some of the wisdom he’s learned on the job.
In addition to describing his recording room as essentially a ‘garden shed,’ he’s passed on his top tip to whoever might follow in his footsteps as future Eurovision host.
His biggest piece of advice? Catch a different flight home from the UK act.
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Speaking to The Guardian, the Graham Norton Show star said: ‘The big thing I have learned is to find out what plane the UK act is getting home – and to be on a different one.’
He continued: ‘It’s a long time to spend with someone who’s probably not very happy. There’s only so many positives you can think up to say – and you’ve probably said them all before you’ve even checked in.’
This, he says, would be the number one piece of advice he’d give to someone taking on the job when he eventually retires.
And he should know – the UK has languished at the bottom of the leaderboard for most of Graham’s time as host, save for 2022, when Sam Ryder finished in second place with Space Man.
It’s likely that the UK will face a similar fate to so many predecessor, with Sam Battle (performing as Look Mum No Computer) being given dismal 100/1 odds by bookies.
He’ll perform synth anthem Eins, Zwei, Drei – a song which has already divided fans back home.
While some have described the song as ‘genius,’ others have called it ‘atrocious,’ and fear we’re on track for another year of nil points.
Meanwhile, this year’s competition has been plagued with controversy, drama and technical difficulties.
The continued inclusion of Israel has led many to boycott – including Iceland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain not participating at all.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ will instead be airing a Eurovision-themed episode of sitcom Father Ted – a sitcom which Graham once appeared in as hyperactive priest Noel Furlong.
Last night’s rehearsals struggled with an unfortunate technical mishap which required organisers to abruptly restart the show.
Elsewhere, a lonely Sam Battle struggled as crowds refused to clap his performance, before being eventually adopted by the Danish delegates.
Given all the drama, you’d forgive Graham for perhaps wanting to retire from his ‘garden shed’ presenting duties.
However, he has no plans to step away from Eurovision just yet.
As he told The Guardian: ‘I will see what happens. I can still hold my wee in for four hours – you don’t get wee breaks. So, I think my retirement will be based on my bladder.’
The Eurovision Song Contest final airs at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer tonight.
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