UK’s Olly Alexander received a less than enthusiastic reaction to his performance (Picture: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
In today’s MetroTalk, our readers are discussing Eurovision 2024.
Our abysmal televote result, the drama, the politics, and the revealing outfits.
The UK’s entry Olly Alexander came 18th out of 25 and was the only country to receive zero public votes. Ouch. So, what exactly are we doing wrong and how can we actually win next year?
Share your thoughts on these topics and more in the comments.
Is our selection process costing us a Eurovision win?
I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent dismal performance of the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest (Metro, Mon).
The final placing of the Olly Alexander’s entry – in 18th out of 25 – coupled with the fact the UK was the only country to receive zero public votes, is not only disheartening but indicative of systemic issues within our approach to selecting Eurovision representatives.
It is clear that the problem lies not with the individual artists or songs, but rather with the overarching approach to selection and representation.
By undertaking meaningful reforms and embracing a more collaborative and inclusive approach to selecting our Eurovision representative, we can restore the UK’s reputation as a powerhouse of music and creativity on the international stage. Stacy Parrish, London
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Eurovision 2024
There were repeated calls for the European Broadcasting Union to drop Israel from the competition (Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
Join Metro’s Eurovision community on WhatsApp
Eurovision calling! To keep you up to date on everything going on in Malmö, we’re hosting a party for everybody (well, maybe just Eurovision fans) over on WhatsApp.
We’ll send you all the drama, memes and iconic moments from the live shows, plus behind the scenes gossip.
You can also get involved by sending your reactions to each of the acts and voting for your favourites in our polls, as we get closer to finding out who will be the winner of Eurovision 2024.
Just follow this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!
It saddened me to hear about the extreme harassment of the 20-year-old Israeli contestant Eden Golan.
It’s completely unacceptable and unfair to treat citizens of Israel in this horrible way.
The citizens of Israel are not the same as the Israeli government. They cannot be held responsible for their government’s conduct of the Gaza war. Scott, West London
As a once avid Eurovision fan, I was disgusted by the way the European Broadcasting Union brought Eurovision into total chaos. They said ‘United by music’, not politics. That was of course a lie. If it were true, why ban Russia again?
To ban Russia and not Israel is telling the world Eurovision condemns Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine but accepts Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. Martin Hyde, Brighton
Based on the costumes worn in the event I witnessed, it should be renamed The Eurovision Thong Contest. Pete, Solihull
Doctor Who funemployed?
So, he’s not a qualified doctor? (Picture: BBC Studios)
On Saturday night, the new Doctor Who told his assistant Ruby Sunday that he had, ‘No job, no boss, just fun’.
Simply swanning around in time and space, having a good time? I’m not one to cast aspersions, but it sounds to me as though he’s claiming Whoniversal Credit. Julian Self, Wolverton
What happened in Peckham wasn’t a peaceful protest
A message to Deacon, Leeds (MetroTalk, Fri). I’ve nothing against peaceful protests and I know what democracy is. But that is not what happened on that day in Peckham, when protesters slashed tyres as they fought to stop asylum seekers being bussed to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Mob rule and vandalism is what happened – important facts that for whatever reason you have ignored and disregarded. Denise, London
How to make a polite noise complaint
Regarding recent letters regarding the habit of using speakerphones and playing loud music on public transport, as a bus driver I find it not only irritating but dangerous.
I have several ways of dealing with this problem, which shows no sign of abating.
They range from ‘Does that go any louder, as passengers upstairs may be missing out?’ as a tongue-in-cheek way of raising awareness, to ‘If I can hear your phone from here, it’s too loud’ and ‘Would you mind having consideration for others and turning that down?’
All requests are polite – none have ever met with a refusal – and almost all are followed by an apology.
Not once have I been berated for asking. Instead, plenty of uninvolved passengers have tapped on my cab door and thanked me. Mr Norris, Gateshead
Blue-sky thinking for Manhattan-on-Thames
That’s a lot of skyscrapers (Credits: Getty Images)
When I was at school, I was taught that London can’t have skyscrapers like New York because New York is built on solid rock but London is built on clay and chalk.
Now I see taller and taller buildings all over London, and we are told (Metro, Fri) that nearly 600 more are to be added to the city’s skyline, turning the capital into ‘Manhattan-on-Thames’.
That’s more than double the 270 built over the past decade. The mind boggles! Len, Barking
In too deep over wild swimming
The Environment Agency will monitor the water quality of 27 proposed wild swimming spots in England, bringing the total number to a record 451 (Metro, Mon).
Given there are so many spillage spills, and wild swimming isn’t everyone’s tipple, pressure should be put on the government to open all available swimming pools. This is the healthier option.
Also, it’s important to be able to swim to save lives. Eva Maria Kania, by text
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