Sweden’s radio commentator at the Eurovision Song Contest confronted Martin Österdahl about a change to the Big Five.
Carolina Norén talked to Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor about making the Big Five compete in the Semi Finals alongside the other competing countries.
Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip as a guest on The Contest & Me series of episodes, Norén said she has asked Österdahl directly on more than one occasion to encourage the EBU to drop the Big Five’s privilege.
“This one thing I have been talking to Martin Österdahl about,” she said.
“I think you should take away the Big Five. Let just the winner be qualified directly to the final and let everybody compete in the same way through the Semi Finals to the Final.”
The United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy and France make up the Big Five and are so-called due to being the biggest financial contributors to the running of the contest.
As a benefit of paying the biggest participation fees to the EBU, all five nations don’t have to compete in the Semi Finals to earn a place in the Grand Final.
“I did an interview and we spoke about what we want to be changed in the future,” she added.
“I think I remember he said it would be possible, but then I confronted him this year and the Big Five are still in the competition.
“He said: ‘I don’t think we will’. I tried and I thought it would become a big change but they [EBU] seem to like the Big Five idea, although it’s not quite fair for the others.
“I will tell him again when I see him the next time.”
Norén has provided radio commentary of Eurovision and Melodifestivalen for Sveriges Radio since 1999.
The commentator has also presented Svensktoppen – Sweden’s chart show – on P4 since 2007.
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