This morning, a long-awaited announcement has been made by BBC broadcaster. United Kingdom returns to Junior Eurovision on the 20th anniversary of the Contest! The announcement has been done in social media and BBC YouTube channel.
The United Kingdom hasn’t participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since 2005, when Joni Fuller and her song “How Does It Feel?” finished 14th. The country made its debut at the beginning of the competition, back in 2003, and took part in the show a total of three times. ITV was the organizing broadcaster of UK’s participation at that time, so it will be the first one under the BBC.
‘We are beyond excited to bring the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to the BBC for the first time, and to showcase the diverse young musical talent from across Europe for children and their families to discover and enjoy together. This junior version of Eurovision will undoubtedly encapsulate the same spirit of unity that the adult contest brings, reflecting the heart of what CBBC is all about, an inclusive channel that celebrates the diversity and creativity in all children. I can’t wait to unveil our own musical talent who will proudly represent the UK.’
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education
The process to select the act and song is now underway and is being led by CBBC with BBC Studios Entertainment and Music. The act and song representing the United Kingdom will be announced in due course, as will the commentators.
It will air on CBBC, BBC One and the BBC iPlayer, with the UK production taking place in dock10 at MediaCityUK.
The best result of the United Kingdom ever at Junior Eurovision was in 2004 when they reached the 2nd place with Cory Spedding performing “The best is yet to come”.
As part of the UK, Wales participated in Junior Eurovision via Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C); the Welsh language broadcaster sent Manw (finishing in last place) in 2018 and Erin Mai in 2019 (18th).
JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2022
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will be held in Yerevan, Armenia next Sunday, December 11. The Karen Demirchyan Complex will host the show where various artists aged between 9 and 14 from different countries in Europe will fight to take the prized crystal microphone, a trophy that accredits the victory in the contest.
The organization of the show by the Armenian public television ARMTV comes after the victory of Malena and her song “Qami Qami” on the stage of Paris on December 19, awakening a collective euphoria throughout her homeland and making the whole country face with great enthusiasm and responsibility the challenge of organizing the festival, that promises to be more special than ever given that this 2022 celebrates its 20th anniversary. It will not be the first time that Armenia organizes an edition of the Junior Eurovision, having had the opportunity to do so in 2011, also at the Karen Demirchyan Complex.
There are 17 European televisions that have already confirmed their participation in the festival so far, however, the ambition and efforts of the organization predicts a greater final number of participants, with the aim that this twentieth edition of the children’s contest being remembered as one of the most spectacular in its history.
Also, we already know the identity of 4 of the participants who will take the stage of the contest this December, all of them will reveal their song over the next few months:
- Georgia – Mariam Bigvava
- Kazakhstan – David Charlin
- North Macedonia – Lara and Irina
- Portugal – Nicolas Alves