Christer Björkman received an offer to return to Eurovision as Contest Producer just hours after Loreen’s victory in Liverpool last year. 

Björkman was announced as a member of broadcaster SVT’s core team for this year’s contest in September last year, but he had accepted the gig months earlier. 

Click to read this story at a glance…

• Christer Björkman received an offer to return as Eurovision Contest Producer immediately after Loreen’s victory in Liverpool
• Björkman’s acceptance of the role was a natural choice, given his extensive experience within the Swedish Eurovision delegation
• His return to Eurovision aligns with his history of working in Malmö with Petra Mede and Edward af Sillén

Speaking to The Euro Trip, Björkman said: “At the afterparty with Loreen in Liverpool, somebody from SVT popped the question, ‘Would you?’ 

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess.’” 

Björkman was a mainstay of the Swedish Eurovision delegation for more than a decade before he stood down in 2021. 

He oversaw Loreen’s victory in 2012 and acted as Show Producer when Sweden hosted in 2013, and was Contest Producer for the first time in 2016 following Måns Zerlemerlöw’s win the year before. 

Despite being with the Swedish delegation in Liverpool last year, Björkman wasn’t there in an official working capacity. 

“It’s very, very difficult to say no to Eurovision. 

“It’s the best programme in TV history. It’s the mothership of all entertainment shows. 

“When you get the question you really, really cannot say no. 

“So, no it didn’t take long. I think I said yes the morning after.” 

During his time away from the contest after 2021, Björkman relocated to Los Angeles to kickstart the American Song Contest. 

He is also widely credited as the founder of the modern Melodifestivalen having worked on the show since 2001, successfully turning it into an envied and respected television format across Europe. 

Björkman’s return as Contest Producer sees history repeating itself with the 1992 Melfest winner reunited with host Petra Mede and director and scriptwriter Edward af Sillén, both of whom he worked with at the 2013 and 2016 contests.