Fans eager to hear songs from the cancelled edition of Eurovision 2020 may well be in luck, with this year’s Head of Show all but confirming the format for an interval act. 

Over the last few weeks, host broadcaster SRG SSR has announced a number of acts who were due to represent their countries in 2020 as guest performers at this year’s contest. 

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• Several artists who were set to perform at the cancelled Eurovision 2020, including The Roop, Efendi, Destiny, and Gjon’s Tears, are returning as guest performers for a special interval act at this year’s contest in Basel
• Fans will “probably” hear songs from Eurovision 2020 that were never performed live on the Eurovision stage
• Other notable performers include past Eurovision stars like Marina Satti, Jerry Heil, Käärijä, and Baby Lasagna
• While not confirmed, there is ongoing hope for a possible appearance by 1988 Eurovision winner Celine Dion, despite her health challenges due to Stiff Person Syndrome

Lithuania’s The Roop, Azerbaijan’s Efendi, Malta’s Destiny and Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears – all of whom did successfully represent their countries in Rotterdam in 2021 – are all on the bill to perform in Basel next week. 

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip, Yves Schifferle said: “We did this on purpose – we released the names without saying what they’re going to do. 

“Fans love to be detectives. We knew these names were not what people had at the top of their minds. 

“With The Roop, Gjon, Efendi and Destiny, I think people are on a really good track. People are smart. People are really good detectives. 

“We’re telling impactful, powerful stories. 

“We’re closing an important chapter – an important Eurovision chapter.” 

Asked directly if the fans will hear some Eurovision songs never performed live on the Eurovision stage before, Schifferle said: “Probably, yes.” 

Other past Eurovision performers appearing as interval acts include Greece’s Marina Satti and Ukraine’s Jerry Heil who represented their countries last year. 

Schifferle said their collaboration is “a tough one to guess” and he is confident fans will be surprised when they see how they perform together. 

Meanwhile the last two Eurovision runners-up, Käärijä and Baby Lasagna, will also perform together on stage in Basel. 

“They were so impactful and so beloved by the fans and still are,” Schifferle said. 

“Why not put them together on stage and create a Eurovision extravaganza? 

“It’s the most energetic act I have ever seen on the Eurovision stage. It’s going to blow people’s minds what they do together. 

“I almost had a heart attack when I saw it for the first time.” 

Celine Dion

Excitement about 1988 Eurovision winner Celine Dion’s appearance at a Swiss hosted contest began soon after Nemo’s win in Malmö last year. 

And although her name hasn’t appeared on the list of guest acts just yet, it shouldn’t be ruled out. 

“We all know Celine’s situation which is obviously difficult for her,” Schifferle said. 

Dion was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, but it had gone undiagnosed for years. 

SPS causes involuntary muscle spasms, and the condition made it almost impossible for Dion to perform songs live in the way she had done so previously for decades. 

“We always said we’d leave this open until the very last day,” Schifferle added. 

“We’ve been in very deep talks with her surroundings, and let’s cross our fingers.”