Bafta TV awards 2026: A titanically tepid ceremony

After controversy at thefilm Baftasover the broadcasting of a racial slur, the last thing the BBC needed was another flashpoint at the television awards. All involved can rest easy because not only was the ceremony lacking in contentious moments – for long stretches it seemed to be missing a pulse altogether.

Taskmaster’s Greg Davies was the new host, taking over from Alan Cumming, who has vowed to never again helm the Baftas following the fall-out over the film awards (which he also presented). Davies was off to a respectable start with a funny pre-recorded sketch in which he introduced an eye-rolling teenager to the joys of British television down the decades – the elephant pooing on Blue Peter, people shouting at each other onEastEndersand so forth.

But it was a different story once he stepped on stage for the live broadcast (not actually live, of course – the BBC was airing it with a delay and with new protocols to ensure there was no repeat of the shambles at the film Baftas). Nervous throughout, Davies had the air of someone happy to simply get through the evening. His jitteriness deprived the two-hour ceremony of the one essential for an awards show: a sense of fun.

Instead of fun, there was lots of silliness. Too much, it quickly became clear. Many of the celebrities dragged up to dole out awards had decided to seize the spotlight with less than hilarious results. Comic actresses Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne seemed to be improvising a scene from their seriesAmandalandon the spot – to tepid guffaws from a generally stony room. Next camenew Harry Potteractor Paapa Essiedu, who thought it would be hilarious to refer to his co-star Nick Frost by the name of his Rowling-verse character, Hagrid – with a pay-off about as funny as a real-life game of Quidditch.

Hollywood glamourwas sprinkled courtesy ofSeverance’s Adam Scott and rapper-turned-actress Awkwafina, who turned up to present awards. They were mere warm-ups for Tinsel Town comedian Seth Rogen, who won Best International Show forThe Studioand approached the Bafta podium like someone who had tumbled through the back of a wardrobe into a parallel dimension.

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“This award show is so cool,” he said, before pointing to Davies, who was watching from a corner of the stage. “I love that this guy sits there in a little chair.” Rogen then gestured towards veteran actress Celia Imrie, whoseflatulence onThe Celebrity Traitorsprovided the evening with one of its running gags. “I assume this woman is very skilled and talented. All I know is she farted on a reality show.”

It was not the last time the Traitors was name-dropped. The Claudia Winkleman backstabbing festival was one of the evening’s duo of big winners (it scooped two awards). The other wasAdolescence, which continued the victory lap which it has seemingly been on since the invention of television itself.

Ethereal pop star Aurora provided the evening with one of its emotive high points as she performed her haunting ballad,Through the Eyes of a Child– from the score to, yes,Adolescence. She was soundtracking an in memoriam section which marked the passing of Prunella Scales, Desmond Morris, James Van Der Beek and others – though there was no mention ofSchitt’s CreekstarCatherine O’Hara, to whom Studio co-star Rogen had paid tribute.

The tone was often jarring. Amid all the wackiness and bantering, rapper-turned-DIY expert Tinie Tempah was the rare award presenter to maintain a straight face – just as well as he was about to hand Simon Schama an accolade for a documentary about the Holocaust. Meanwhile, a skit in which news presenter Kirsty Wark was rude to Davies landed oddly – her “fake” annoyance containing flashes of genuine irritation.

Tellingly, many of the more serious awards were relegated to a highlights section. They included the current affairs category, which was won byGaza: Doctors Under Attack, broadcast by Channel 4 after the BBC declined to air it. “Given you dropped our film, will you drop us from the Bafta screening later tonight?”, wondered Ben de Pear, the founder of the production company that made the film. He got his answer – the comments were broadcast but during a montage that was over almost before it began.

The message repeated from the podium was that television has no rival when it comes to the shared viewing experience. It’s a fair point. How ironic that it was made during a titanically tepid ceremony that would have had many viewers reach for their phones and scrolling furiously.

byJastin Mags

in

May 10, 2026

Bafta TV awards 2026: A titanically tepid ceremony

After controversy at thefilm Baftasover the broadcasting of a racial slur, the last thing the BBC needed was another flashpoint at the ...

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David Allan Coe, maverick country star known for his wild life and working-class anthems

David Allan Coe, who has died aged 86, was a maverick country music singer known for his wild tales of prison life and working-class anthems You Never Even Called Me by My Name and Take This Job and Shove It; he was a pioneer of the “outlaw” movement which bristled against Nashville’s conservatism and conformism.

A broad, physically intimidating man who could often rub people up the wrong way, Coe arrived in the Tennessee city in 1967, keen to make it as a country music star despite being a self-declared “long-haired redneck” (though the flowing mane that was a feature of his later stage shows was a 3ft-long blonde wig).

He lived for a time in a hearse, perpetually parked outside the Ryman Auditorium, where he would don elaborate rhinestone outfits and a Lone Ranger-style mask and busk for gullible passers-by who believed he had just come off stage.

Six years after arriving in Music City, Coe hit the big time thanks to Tanya Tucker’s cover of Would You Lay With Me (in a Field of Stone), which went to No 1 in the country charts. Coe signed with Columbia and released his major-label debut, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, in 1974. It included I Still Sing the Old Songs, and a cover ofGuy Clark’s country staple Desperados Waiting for the Train (later popularised by the Highwaymen supergroup consisting of Coe’s fellow outlawsWaylon Jennings, Willie Nelson,Johnny CashandKris Kristofferson).

But it was the album Once Upon a Rhyme, released a year later, that gave Coe his imperishable hit, You Never Even Called Me by My Name. Written by Steve Goodman andJohn Prine, it was a self-knowing send-up of honky tonk stereotypes involving trucks, beer and dysfunctional families: “I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison/ And I went to pick her up in the rain/ But before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck/ She got runned over by a damned old train”. The song remains a jukebox staple in bars across the Southern US, and lived up to its cocky, spoken-word interlude declaring it the “perfect country and Western song”.

That bristling self-assuredness inflected all of Coe’s music, from his Hank Williams-inspired journeyman epic The Ride in 1983 to Son of the South (1986), in which he reels off a list of his all-time favourite artists – Hank Williams Jr, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “David Allan Coe” himself – and, finally, Willie, Waylon and Me (1987), in which he muscled in on Nelson and Jennings’s famous friendship.

It was a pointed dig at his fellow outlaws whom he considered more a part of the country music establishment; those peers, for their part, often suggested that Coe had a tendency to self-mythologise – and at points he claimed to have more than 300 tattoos, and be a practising Mormon and a polygamist.

Jennings in particular struggled with Coe’s abrasive, confrontational edge, and once said he would “stab you in the back and then ride off your name like he’s your best friend.”Shelby Singleton, the producer who discovered Coe, told Rolling Stone in 1976 that “Ninety per cent of what he tells you is probably bulls***t.”

Coe took issue with those who refused to acknowledge his influence: he was the first mainstream country artist to have an all-female backing band, Ladysmith (a milestone which was later wrongly attributed to Dolly Parton’s early collaborator Porter Wagoner).

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David Allan Coe was born on September 6 1939 to Donald Coe and Dorothy, née Wilson, in Akron, Ohio, an industrial city then known as the Rubber Capital of the World. His childhood was impoverished and unhappy, ruled by his violent, drunken father, who worked at Goodyear Tires, and he was sent to a reform facility aged nine.

Two decades in correctional facilities followed, including three years at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, where he faced charges for grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools. He later claimed that, while incarcerated, he killed a fellow inmate with a mop bucket after the inmate made homosexual advances in the communal showers, but this was later debunked; he also met the shock-rock pioneer Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, of I Put A Spell on You fame, who encouraged him to start singing.

Prison left its mark on Coe: his first album, Penitentiary Blues, was released in 1970. Five years later, he reflected on how he had found solace in the system: “There were a lot of times when I would actually be in the county jail after being busted and I’d wake up the next morning and say to myself: ‘Oh I’m glad it’s over; I’m glad I’m going back to prison now, where I know I’ll be safe, where I’ll be out of society.’”

It was a fellow outlaw pioneer who earned Coe his most lucrative hit. In 1977, the aptly namedJohnny Paycheckhad a No 1 with a cover of Coe’s blue-collar anthem Take This Job and Shove It, which inspired the 1981 film of the same name, starring Robert Hays andArt Carney.

Coe’s commercial success began to plateau following his controversial albums Nothing Sacred (1978) and Underground Album (1982) – later reissued together as 18 X-Rated Hits – which were criticised for containing racist slurs and sexist stereotypes. Coe addressed the controversy in 2004, telling the website Swampland: “Anyone that would look at me and say I was a racist would have to be out of their mind.” It was not until his 1983 album Castles in the Sand – which contained The Ride – that Coe was welcomed back into the fold in Nashville.

Decades of obscure albums and purposely uncommercial projects ensued, including a pornographic novel. Late-life Coe was known mostly for his wizened, plaited beard and angry stage presence, as well as collaborations with the metal band Pantera and fellow country controversy-magnet, Kid Rock.

His final two decades were marred by financial struggles. In 2007, there were reports that he owed more than $290,000 in child support to his ex-wife Jody Lynn Coe (he was married six times), with whom he shares four children, including the country music podcaster Tyler Mahan Coe. Coe pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 2015 and was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to repay almost $1 million to the authorities.

He is survived by his sixth wife, Kimberley.

David Allan Coe, born September 6 1939, died April 29 2026

byJastin Mags

in

May 10, 2026

David Allan Coe, maverick country star known for his wild life and working-class anthems

David Allan Coe, who has died aged 86, was a maverick country music singer known for his wild tales of prison life and working-class an...

Read More

PepsiCo Just Brought Back a Beloved Limited-Edition Soda for Summer

A fan-favorite soda flavor is returning this summer with a fresh look and a seasonal twist.

Key Takeaways

• The limited-edition drink celebrates a popular reality show and features fruity flavors perfect for warm days.

The soda aisle has expanded in numerous ways over the past few years, especially when it comes to better-for-you varieties. And there is no shortage of options: Poppi,Olipop, Culture Pop,Slice, and evenPepsihave new prebiotic offerings.

Poppi has set the standard for the "healthier" soda industry since its founders' 2018 appearance on "Shark Tank," steadily growing before beingacquired by PepsiCo in 2025 for $1.65 billion. Since its debut, Poppi has released fan-loved soda copycats includingDoc Pop,Alpine Blast, and even aShirley Temple flavor. It's also come out with its own unique brand flavors, such as Strawberry Lemon, Ginger Lime, andBerries & Cream.

Now, the brand is bringing back a fan-favorite flavor in a new can that celebrates the upcoming season of "Love Island USA"—and it couldn’t be more perfect for summer.

Poppi Debuts 'Love Island USA'-Themed Punch Pop

Poppi is joining forces with the über-popular reality series "Love Island USA" to kick off summer in the best way possible: with a limited-edition Punch Pop x "Love Island USA" can.

While each sip of the soda tastes like summer, the most exciting part about the limited-edition drink might be the can. It features the iconic "Love Island" heart and palm trees in vibrant, multicolored shades fit for a summer of love.

Punch Popfirst emerged on the scene last year for a limited time, and is back just in time for warm days and long nights watching the new "Love Island USA" season. And you don't have to be an "Islander" to enjoy the fruit punch flavors with notes of apple, orange, lemon, and cherry juice.

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This isn’t the first time the duo has worked together. Last year, Poppi teamed up with the popular dating show to launchAmaya’s Island Colada, named after fan-favorite cast member and winner of season seven of "Love Island USA," Amaya Espinal. The soda was an instant hit and sold out twice in under 24 hours, prompting Poppi torerelease the popular pop in Januaryfor a limited time.

Poppi shared the news of the new can design onInstagram, and fans are thrilled for its arrival. "Our Punch Pop bombshell is BACK! Same delicious taste with a bit of a different look," the brand wrote on Instagram. "We’re here to make all of your summer dreams come true with this one!"

One fan wrote, "Punch Pop, I missed you!!!"

Another commented, "THE SODA OF SUMMER IS BACK!"

"My prayers were answered," someone else added.

Poppi's Punch Pop flavor is available in single cans and 4-packs. You can buy it at major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kroger, and others, while supplies last. Looking at the Instagram comments, it’s safe to say that fans are rushing to get theirs, so I wouldn’t wait too long to snag some if you want to sip on it while you watch the "Love Island USA" premiere on June 2.

Read the original article onAllrecipes

byJastin Mags

in

May 09, 2026

PepsiCo Just Brought Back a Beloved Limited-Edition Soda for Summer

A fan-favorite soda flavor is returning this summer with a fresh look and a seasonal twist. Key Takeaways The limi...

Read More

Here's What the Judges Are Performing at the Season 24 “American Idol” Finale (Exclusive)

The season 24 finale will feature performances by judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie

NEED TO KNOW

• Alicia Keys will serve as the guest mentor and performer alongside a star-studded lineup of musical guests

• The finale will air on Monday, May 11

The season 24 finale ofAmerican Idolis officially stacked with exciting performances.

The episode, which will air on Monday, May 11, will feature performances by judgesCarrie Underwood,Luke BryanandLionel Richie, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.

Bryan, 49, Richie, 76, and Underwood, 43, will perform "Deep River Woman" by Richie.

Bryan will take the stage solo to perform his new song "Fish Hunt Golf Drink" — and then again with finalist Julián Kalel to perform "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" by Dwight Yoakam.

Underwood will also take the stage once more for an exciting performance withMötley Crüe.

Idol previously announced its star-studded lineup of finale performers, includingBrad Paisley, Blues Traveler,Cameron Whitcomb,Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Gin Blossoms,Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack,Nelly,ShinedownandTori Kelly.

In addition,Alicia Keyswill serve as the guest mentor and performer.

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On May 4, contestants Chris Tungseth and Braden Rumfelt were sent home, leaving Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough and Keyla Richardson as the Top 3 in the finale.

Elsewhere in the episode, which hosted a Class of 2006 Reunion, Paris Bennett,Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Bucky Covington and winnerTaylor Hicksreturned to the show to honor the 20th anniversary of their season.

The show also welcomed original judgesRandy JacksonandPaula Abdul. Both served as mentors for the Top 5 — and Abdul joined Underwood, Bryan and Richie as a guest judge.

"I'm just so happy to be at my old home and to see some of my children that are now grown and have kids, and meeting the new hopefuls," Abdul said, according toEntertainment Weekly. "I hope all of you have the best time ever and leave your heart out there."

Ahead of the finale, Underwood wasmoved to tearsby Harper's audition to an original song about postpartum depression. Meanwhile, Richardsonmoved guest judge Jennifer Hudson— in addition to the rest of the judges — when she performed "Circle of Life" on Disney night. On Taylor Swift night, McCullough was praised by Richie — who said he has the ability to turn everything he sings into "a religious experience."

The season 24 finale of the singing competition show will air on Monday, May 11 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

May 09, 2026

Here's What the Judges Are Performing at the Season 24 “American Idol” Finale (Exclusive)

The season 24 finale will feature performances by judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie NEED TO KNOW ...

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Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Who is the UK entry and how can you watch?

TheEurovision Song Contestslogan, “United by music”, gets more ironic by the day. The 70th edition of the competition is ploughing ahead in Vienna this May, despite several countries boycotting due toIsrael’s participation, growing pressure on the UK’s entrant to also withdraw, and a high likelihood of vociferous protests on the night.

It should make for an even more bizarre Eurovision than usual, juxtaposing fraught geopolitics with the usual enjoyably bonkers, high-camp pop and retina-searing staging. So, who is actually participating (and sitting this one out), and does the UK have any chance of avoiding the infamous nul points? Here are all your burning 2026 Eurovision questions answered.

• Where is Eurovision 2026?

• When is the final?

• How to watch

• Full line-up and running order

• Who is representing the UK?

• Is Israel still in Eurovision?

• Who is boycotting Eurovision?

• Is Russia still banned?

• Is Scott Mills still taking part?

• The best acts for 2026

• How voting works

Where is Eurovision 2026?

We’re heading to Austria this year followingJJ’s victory in 2025with the glass-shattering techno-operaticWasted Love. This is the country’s third time hosting (the last stint was in 2015), and our base of operations will be the 16,152-seater Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. On hosting duties are TV presenter Victoria Swarovski (yes,thatSwarovski – watch out for some seriously bling accessories) and actor Michael Ostrowski.

When is the final?

Tune in for pop and protests on Saturday, May 16. For the true superfans – or just gluttons for punishment – that grand final is preceded by two televised semi-finals on Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14.

How to watch the Eurovision final

The BBC is once again broadcasting all the action on BBC One andiPlayer. You can also follow along on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, should you wish to have the pure aural experience and miss out on such sights as a grown man running in a hamster wheel.

Of course, we would also recommend following along viaThe Telegraph’s dedicated Eurovision live blog for expert insight and a steady stream of snarky comments.

What is the full Eurovision line-up and running order?

This year, 35 countries are participating in Eurovision, and 25 will make the grand final.

The “Big Five” nations (although there are only four competing in 2026 – about which more shortly) get automatic entry to the final because they provide extra financial support to the contest. Last year’s winner also gets a free pass. So the final will definitely feature:

• Italy: Sal Da Vinci, Per Sempre Sì

• Germany: Sarah Engels, Fire

• France: Monroe, Regarde !

• Austria: COSMÓ, Tanzschein

• United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer, Eins, Zwei, Drei

The running order for the first semi-final is:

1. Moldova: Satoshi, Viva, Moldova!

2. Sweden: FELICIA, My System

3. Croatia: LELEK, Andromeda

4. Greece: Akylas, Ferto

5. Portugal: Bandidos do Cante, Rosa

6. Georgia: Bzikebi, On Replay

7. Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, Liekinheitin

8. Montenegro: Tamara Živković, Nova Zora

9. Estonia: Vanilla Ninja, Too Epic To Be True

10. Israel: Noam Bettan, Michelle

11. Belgium: ESSYLA, Dancing on the Ice

12. Lithuania: Lion Ceccah, Sólo Quiero Más

13. San Marino: SENHIT, Superstar

14. Poland: ALICJA, Pray

15. Serbia: LAVINA, Kraj Mene

The running order for the second semi-final is:

1. Bulgaria: DARA, Bangaranga

2. Azerbaijan: JIVA, Just Go

3. Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu, Choke Me

4. Luxembourg: Eva Marija, Mother Nature

5. Czechia: Daniel Zizka, CROSSROADS

6. Armenia: SIMÓN, Paloma Rumba

7. Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro, Alice

8. Cyprus: Antigoni, JALLA

9. Latvia: Atvara, Ēnā

10. Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund, Før Vi Går Hjem

11. Australia: Delta Goodrem, Eclipse

12. Ukraine: LELÉKA, Ridnym

13. Albania: Alis, Nân

14. Malta: AIDAN, Bella

15. Norway: JONAS LOVV, YA YA YA

Who is representing the UK?

The marvellously monikeredLook Mum No Computer. We’ve gone all down with the kids: our entry is a popular YouTuber (real name: Sam Battle), who is tackling workplace ennui through the medium of bouncy synth-pop and Germanic counting.

He has amassed more than 1.4 million social media followers by unveiling whimsical musical inventions that would tickle Wes Anderson – like a synthesiser made of Furby toys – and even has his own dedicated vintage museum in Ramsgate. He’s also a prolific singer-songwriter, and has legitimate musical experience to balance the effortful quirk: he used to be in the band Zibra, which played Glastonbury in 2015, and now tours as a solo artist.

Can the UK win?

Well, most of Europe’s voters seem to hate us, so probably not. Last year ouraptly namedsongWhat the Hell Just Happened?saw us finish in an ignominious 19th place. But might this be our year? Look Mum No Computer’sEins, Zwei, Dreiis catchy, naff, ridiculous and esoteric – in short, perfect Eurovision fuel.

It vaguely nods towards international sensibilities, but is also like a silly version of the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony: the music video features baked beans, digestive biscuits, and a flying Mini Cooper wheezing over the White Cliffs of Dover. It brings a (confused) patriotic tear to the eye.

The choice of Battle also perhaps acknowledges Eurovision’s growing Gen Z fanbase. The choice of a geeky, clip-friendly YouTuber might see the UK get its best result in years. Or we could get shafted yet again. That essential tension is at the heart of the Eurovision experience.

Is Israel still in Eurovision?

Yes, in short. Yes, but… is the longer answer. The 2025 contest saw widespread protests due to the war in Gaza: pro-Palestinian protestors attempted to storm the stage when Israel’s Yuval Raphael was performing, some audience members booed and waved Palestinian flags, and in the streets of Basel, protestors threw smoke bombs and burned Israeli and American flags. Despite all of that, Raphael performed strongly and finished in second place.

This year, 28-year-old Noam Bettan is entering the fray as Israel’s contestant. His songMichelle, which is sung in a mix of English, French and Hebrew, is about a toxic relationship with “the queen of problems”, and also, as far as I can tell from the music video, about Bettan buying every terrible leather jacket that Shein has to offer.

Wait, didn’t Israel rig the vote last year?

There were raised eyebrows when Israel steamed into second place thanks to the televote – and actually looked like they might win the whole thing for a moment. Several nations, including Ireland, Spain and Belgium, then demanded that Eurovision organisers investigate the voting system.

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It was subsequently established that the Israeli government had run advertising campaigns to encourage public votes, and that ads in 2025 received more than 68 million impressions. In response, the contest has introduced new rules: entrants and broadcasters are banned from taking part in third-party promotional campaigns (including those run by governments), and fans are now only able to cast 10 votes each instead of 20.

Martin Green, director of Eurovision, said: “One of the clearest messages we received was the need to strengthen trust in the fairness of the contest.” He added that “governments do not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, artists do.” To quote Ian Fletcher: “So that’s all good then.”

Who is boycotting Eurovision?

Ah, yes. Despite Green’s chipper hand-waving, it seems a few nations are still livid about Israel being in the contest at all – let alone their determined get-out-the-vote efforts. In September last year, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia threatened to boycott Eurovision unless Israel was excluded. In response, Austria and Germany said they would quit if Israel was chucked out, leaving organisers – who, lest we forget, wish us to be “united by music” – with a miserable dilemma.

They tackled that head on by announcing they would have an emergency vote on Israel’s participation in November… and then cancelling said vote following the ceasefire in Gaza. Alas, that did not appease the anti-Israel brigade, and those countries (Spain – which is normally one of the “Big Five” – Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia) are now officially boycotting Eurovision. It’s the largest number of boycotting countries in the history of the contest.

What about the UK?

The UK is still taking part – despite some furious opposition. In April more than 12,000 people signed a Palestine Solidarity Campaign petitionurging Sam Battle to boycott.

Meanwhile the campaign group No Music for Genocide has released an open letter urging public broadcasters, performers, fans and more to boycott. The letter asks why Russia remains banned from the contest – after organisers said its presence would “bring the competition into disrepute” – but “the same standard” has not been applied to Israel. It’s signed by the likes of Brian Eno,Kneecap, Paul Weller, Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Sigur Rós, and Primal Scream.

Who else is protesting?

Nemo, who won the contest for Switzerland in 2024, has handed back their trophy in protest at Israel taking part. The non-binary singer released a statement on Instagram, writing: “This is not about individuals or artists. It’s about the fact that the contest was repeatedly used to soften ⁠the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insists that this contest is non-political.”

Dana International, who won Eurovision for Israel in Birmingham in 1998, has, in turn, denounced the boycotting nations, calling it a “violent and insulting” decision that added “only hatred and harm”. Once again, a reminder: united by music!

So Russia is still banned?

Yes, Russia is still banned. At the time of writing, no one is protesting that decision.

Will there be extra security at Eurovision 2026?

Oh yes. Vienna police are coordinating with contest officials to ensure the safety of the area around the Wiener Stadthalle, and conducting weekly threat assessments. Around 250 staff members from Vienna police and the interior ministry are working on security planning, and specialised teams, including explosive detection dog units, will likely be deployed in the run-up to the contest. There will also be background checks run on suppliers and staff, checks done on spectators, and airport-style security measures at the fan zones across the city.

Is Scott Mills still taking part?

Awkward. Mills was due to commentate on the Eurovision semi-finals and on the final on Radio 2 (as he has done since 2011), but wassacked by the BBClast month due to allegations of “serious sexual offences” against a teenage boy between 1997 and 2000. So no, he definitely won’t be part of the Eurovision team. The Sun has reported that Mills will be succeeded in his Eurovision role by Sara Cox, joining fellow commentator Rylan Clark.

Which acts should we look out for in 2026?

Putting all the many controversies to one side – let’s focus on the music. And the cheerful inanity of Eurovision. The current bookies’ favourite is Finland withLiekinheitin(or “Flamethrower”), which features angsty singing, literal flames, and a sexy blonde lady in a tinfoil dress dramatically playing the violin. It’s got everything.

Also keep an eye on France withRegarde !(yes, there really is a space before the exclamation mark, and yes, it’s driving me crazy), sung by 17-year-old Monroe, and Denmark’s thumping dance anthemFør Vi Går Hjem.

The UK isn’t the only entrant bemoaning office culture: Armenia is having a right old go as well (sample lyrics: “This meeting could have been an email / Free coffee won’t keep me here man”). Meanwhile Greece’s entry is a panic attack in human form, 50 per cent of Norway’s lyrics are “ya ya ya”, and Romania has courted controversy by selecting the songChoke Me, which campaigners say glamorises strangulation. Also Serbia has emotive death metal, and Australia is bringing out the big(ish) guns with actual chart-topper Delta Goodrem.

Wait, is Australia in Europe?

Not even a little bit, but here we are. Australians are superfans who enthused their way in. It was meant to be a one-off, in 2015, as part of the contest’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, but they were so popular (finishing an impressive fifth) that they were invited back. Eurovision also features Azerbaijan, so we’re really playing fast and loose with the “Euro” part of the equation here.

Do performers sing live?

Yes, it’s mandated in the rules that all lead vocals must be sung live – and in some cases, you can tell. (There is no corresponding rule that you must sing in tune.) Songs must only be original compositions and a maximum of three minutes long.

Remind me how the voting works?

Easily the most byzantine system of all these entertainment contests. In the final, contestants get two separate scores: one from a jury of music experts, the other from fan votes (cast via phone, text message or the official Eurovision app). Fans cannot vote for their own country.

The results are wheeled out in two stages in the grand final. First, the acts are ranked by jury vote, and then that order is slowly – agonisingly slowly – upended as each country’s spokesperson announces who they’re giving fan votes to, in the form of points, from one to 12. This is usually the time when the UK slides inexorably down the rankings, and we all lose faith in Europe, democracy and music.

Don’t countries just vote for their neighbours?

There is still neighbourly bloc voting, with the likes of Greece and Cyprus doggedly sticking together, year after year. Which is heart-warming. We need some certainties in life – and in Eurovision.

byJastin Mags

in

May 09, 2026

Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Who is the UK entry and how can you watch?

TheEurovision Song Contestslogan, “United by music”, gets more ironic by the day. The 70th edition of the competition is ploughing ahea...

Read More

BlueClaws, America both celebrating birthdays this summer

Buckle up for a summerlong celebration as the Jersey Shore BlueClaws pair their own silver jubilee with our nation’s semiquincentennial at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood.

There will be fireworks, summer concerts, heritage and theme night giveaways, character appearances and more as the BlueClaws celebrate 25 years at the Jersey Shore and join in America’s 250th festivities this summer.

“So many different events (are) going on this season with the focus on America’s 250th and our own 25th anniversary,” said BlueClaws General Manager Bob McLane. “We have home games for Fourth of July weekend with major fireworks displays, and a lot of new promotions and theme nights on the schedule for this year.”

Officials said the BlueClaws organization, a Philadelphia Phillies High-A minor league baseball affiliate, strives to provide affordable family fun with activities throughout the ballpark and special events all summer offering something for all ages.

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Inside the park, ShoreTown’s signature 360-degree concourse encircles traditional stadium seating and features a host of Shore-themed activities throughout. Family fun abounds with mini golf down the right field line, traditional boardwalk games in center field and the Sand Bar Stage for live concerts in right field. Fans can watch the game from beach blankets on the outfield hill or atop one of five oversized lifeguard stands, and a must-see for fans every game are the Pork Roll, Egg, and Cheese and other mascot-themed races at the end of the third inning.

Summer at the ballpark

Special promotions this season feature a mix of theme nights, character appearances, and giveaways along with fireworks, recurring weekly events, and special celebrations tied to the 25thanniversary, holidays and community causes. The promotional 2026 schedule is loaded with commemorative items early in the season, family-friendly events, character meet-and-greets (Phillie Phanatic and Bluey), cultural heritage nights, community appreciation nights (first responders, military, Scouts), giveaway games (bobbleheads, hats, and beach badges), and fireworks displays every Friday as well as during Independence Week and on Fan Appreciation Day.

Recurring weekly events include Kids Eat Free and Pups in the Park every Sunday, Thirsty Thursdays (21+ drink specials), Summer Concert Saturdays at the Sand Bar Stage, and Jersey Shore Locals jerseys/caps on most Sundays.

BlueClaws 2026 summer events

• May 2: Touch-Some-Trucks, Buster's birthday celebration

• May 13: (Wednesday matinee) Education Day

• May 14: Thirsty Thursday, Phillie Phanatic appearance

• May 15: Medusas de Jersey Shore kickoff/Hispanic Heritage Night, post-game fireworks

• May 16: Bluey character appearance

• May 27: (Wednesday matinee) Education Day

• May 29: Commemorative beach badge giveaway , first 1,000 fans free

• May 30: Halfway to Halloween (Ghostbusters bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,000 fans, trick-or-treating, costume contest)

• May 31: Bark in the Park (pre-game festival, dogs welcome)

• June 4: First Responders Night

• June 5: Girl Scout Family Night (pre-game parade and fireworks)

• June 6: E-Street Shuffle performance

• June 7: 6/7 Day, Locals towel poncho giveaway (first 500 kids 12 and younger)

• June 20: Irish Heritage Night, hat giveaway, The Shantys

• June 21: Father's Day celebration (post-game father/child catch on field)

• July 2: Pride Night — “Baseball is For Everyone"

• July 3, 4: Independence Week/Red, White & BlueClaws/America's 250th Birthday (major fireworks displays)

• July 22: Camp Day

• July 23: Military Appreciation Night

• July 25: Christmas in July (Santa appearance, post-game fireworks)

• Aug. 5: Camp Day

• Aug. 6: Jersey Tomatoes night

• Aug. 7: Star Wars Night

• Aug. 8: Salute to Heroes/Country Night (Tequila Rose, line dancing)

• Aug. 20: BlueClaws Charities Karaoke Night

• Aug. 21: Scout Night (pre-game parade, ceremonies, and post-game fireworks, with a sleepover option)

• Aug. 22: Splintered Sunlight (Grateful Dead tribute performance)

• Aug. 27: Liberty bucket replica giveaway (first 1,000 fans)

• Aug. 28: Autism Awareness Night

• Aug. 29: Fan Appreciation Night (food and drink specials and post-game fireworks)

For the most up-to-date details, full game-by-game schedule, or to purchase tickets, visitmlb.com/milb/jersey-shore.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press:Jersey Shore BlueClaws have birthday surprises in 2026 summer

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