Who are the Eurovision Big Five and why do they automatically qualify?-Elizabeth Atkin and Ellie Hutchings-Entertainment – Metro

Five European countries get an automatic place in the Eurovision final (Picture: Getty)

The Eurovision Song Contest is almost upon us, and some new fans may be wondering why the ‘Big Five’ get fast-tracked to the final every year.

Rehearsals are underway for the 2024 contest in Sweden, and Eurovision devotees will already know that Switzerland’s Nemo is favourite to win this year, with Israel’s Eden Golan also in a good position and Olly Alexander’s UK Eurovision entry proving to be popular with fans.

The English singer will be hoping to secure a win for the UK for the first time in 27 years. And, luckily for Olly, he’s guaranteed a place in the final.

A few other European countries also get entry into the final as a given – but why?

Who are Eurovision’s Big Five?

The UK, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, form the group known as the Big Five.

They are the five countries whose broadcasters make the biggest financial contribution to the production of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Olly Alexander is hoping to win Eurovision for the UK this year (Picture: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

This hasn’t always been the case, however, and originally the Big Five were actually the Big Four.

The rule was first introduced in 2000, and the countries that automatically qualified back then were the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

The group didn’t become the Big Five until Italy joined in 2011.

Despite being one of the countries to compete in the first-ever contest in 1956, Italy withdrew from the competition without explanation in 1997 and did not return until 2011, when it became one of the Big Five.

Why do the Big Five automatically reach the Eurovision final?

Because the Big Five make the biggest financial contribution towards Eurovision, their acts get fast-tracked to the final.

The country that won the previous year and is the current host also automatically joins the grand final alongside the Big Five.

For 2024, this means that the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain alongside Sweden have a place in the Eurovision final.

Sweden qualifies for the Eurovision final as this year’s host country (Picture: Laurie Dieffembacq/ Belga/AFP via Getty Images)

This year will be a bit different, however. For the first time, the Big Five and hosts Sweden will perform their entries in full in the Eurovision semi-finals.

This means we’ll see Olly Alexander performing the UK’s song Dizzy during the first semi-final on Tuesday 7 May. The additional performances will be slotted between the acts of those who don’t automatically qualify.

Germany and Sweden will also perform on Tuesday 7 May, while France, Italy and Spain will perform in the second semi-final on Thursday 9 May.

As usual, the Big Five will not be competing for votes, though they do each get to cast a vote in one of the semi-finals.

Eurovision 2024 odds

Most bookmakers currently favour Switzerland to win the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.

Their act, Nemo, has been given a 24% chance of winning the grand final by Eurovision World.

Swiss singer and rapper Nemo is the favourite to win Eurovision 2024 (Picture: EPA)

Other favourites include Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Ukraine and France respectively.

William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps previously told Yahoo: ‘Switzerland continue to gather momentum ahead of next weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest and find themselves 2/1 to win their third Eurovision title.

‘Croatia have likewise made positive moves having narrowed from 4/1 to 7/2 in recent weeks and will most likely be the Swiss’ closest challengers when contestants take to the stage in Malmo.

‘It’s, however, bad news for the United Kingdom, who were considered one of the favourites when the market first opened but continue to drift in price, now trading at 40/1.’

The Eurovision Grand Final airs on Saturday 11 May.

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