Couples step out for Eurovision dance contest
Television’s first Eurovision Dance Contest was launched tonight.
Couples from 16 countries across Europe donned their glad rags for the new BBC1 show this Saturday.
The Eurovision Dance Contest comes 52 years after the launch of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman will be hosting the show in September from the BBC Television Centre.
The choice of former lovers Brendan Cole and Camilla Dallerup to represent the UK has raised eyebrows. Cole is from New Zealand while Dallerup, who broke off their engagement after he got close to Natasha Kaplinsky on Strictly Come Dancing, is from Denmark.
But Dallerup said: “This is my home so I am proud to be representing Britain. I’ve been here for 11 years and Brendan has been here for 12.
“We have been rehearsing for five weeks, a couple of hours a day,” she said.
She added of their relationship: “All is forgiven, unless he does an illegal dance move on the night.”
The contestants, who hail from Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Ukraine, as well as the UK will have two rounds and on one round they will be asked to perform a free style dance inspired by their country.
Launching the event in London’s City Hall, Norton said: “I would have agreed to host a Eurovision Darts Contest. I just think this will be amazing.”
The Contest will be broadcast across Europe on BBC1 this Saturday night, with Strictly Come Dancing judges Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman acting as commentators for British viewers.
