The viewing figures for the BBC’s coverage of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest have been revealed.
Millions snubbed the competition’s final on Saturday night, amid a planned boycott, with the BBC losing almost two million viewers compared to viewing figures for last year’s contest.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a nonviolent Palestinian-led initiative promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel, urged Eurovision fans, hosts, performers and workers to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The boycott was called following the Eurovision Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel, a country in the Middle East, to compete amid it’s ongoing war on the people of Palestine. Many Eurovision fans felt this was a hypnotical stance from the EBU, given Russia was kicked out of the competition in 2022 over its invasion of Russia.
Olly on stage performing his track Dizzy, which finished 18th out of 25 at last night’s Eurovision (
Antti Aimo-Koivisto/REX/Shutterstock)
It appears as though the planned boycott had an impact, with viewing figures down considerably compared to recent years. Taking to Twitter (X) on Sunday, TV commentator and podcast host Scott Bryan wrote: “Eurovision was watched by 7.6 million last night, down from 9.9 million – a 23% fall. Doctor Who had 2.6 million and 2.4 million for its two opening episodes – but they debuted on iPlayer.” He added: “Eurovision BBC Ratings (average viewers) 2024: 7.6 million 2023: 9.9 million 2022: 8.9 million 2021: 7.4 million.”
Just hours before the Eurovision final, Olly Alexander was dealt a crushing blow as fans urge him to ‘do the right thing’. The singer’s fans pleaded with him to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest just hours before he represented the UK on stage in Sweden. Olly was told it wasn’t too late “to do the right thing and boycott Eurovision” amid the protests outside the Malmo Arena in Sweden over Israel’s involvement in the competition.