Graham Norton, 56, who has been a regular fixture on Eurovision 2019 for a decade, has given fans a word of warning if they decide to partake in an unofficial traditional drinking game. The TV presenter pointed out fans could possibly miss all the best bits if they drink too much or are asleep when it comes to voting. Speaking to the TV Times, Graham advised: “Pace yourselves. If you play a drinking game that everyone finds too easy you’ll never stay awake to laugh at the various presenters standing in front of the bleak abandoned streets of obscure European capitals saying, ‘Thank you for this wonderful show you are giving tonight’.” Despite viewers tuning in to watch Eurovision to see various European countries battle it out to win the competition, some fans use it as an opportunity to be a bit more merry.
The generic rules tend to vary each year but it usually consists of a contestant who wears white or someone who sings off-key, then people have a sip of a drink.
Meanwhile, this year marks Graham’s 10th year as BBC commentator after Terry Wogan stepped down in 2008, eight years before his death in 2016.
But while it is one of the most coveted jobs in telly, he doesn’t really think of it as work.
He told the publication: “My job at Eurovision is unlike anything else I do. I just sit back and watch the show, making the odd comment when I think it’s needed.
“’Work’ is really a big word for what I actually do on the night.”
The BBC favourite revealed he has high hopes for the UK making it thorough to be crowned champions of the competition.
The small-screen star said: “To those that say we can never win, I would remind them of Portugal, Israel, Austria, Germany, all recent winners and countries that never gave up though many said they should. Keep the faith, UK!”
While Graham is commentating on tonight’s grand final, co-hosts Rylan Neal-Clark and Scott Mills were in charge of the semi-finals earlier this week.
The BBC Radio One DJ recently spilled on his partnership with the former Big Brother presenter.
Speaking about their time doing Eurovision last year, Scott said: “Rylan and I had a lot of fun last year too.
“When we arrived in Lisbon, Rylan was wearing stilettos with a pointy heel. If you haven’t been to Lisbon, you should know the streets are all cobbled.”
He continued: “I was trying to help him as his heel kept getting stuck. He loved it though and I know he’s looking forward to it this year.
“He’s set up a Whatsapp group called Divas where we can swap messages of how excited we are.
“I know he’s desperate to meet former winner Dana International, the previous Israeli winner who is rumoured to be there.”
The TV presenter and former X Factor star was enlisted as Scott’s co-commentator for the 2018 Eurovision semi-finals in Lisbon but had to withdraw at the last minute due to “unforeseen circumstances” and had to return to the UK.
Rylan later explained he had to go home because his husband Dan Neal fell ill.
Eurovision Song Contest final airs tonight on BBC One at 8pm