How much has the Israel boycott really harmed Eurovision 2024?-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

The Eurovision 2024 viewing figures show a mixed picture (Picture: Antti Aimo-Koivisto/LEHTI/SIPA/S)

As the semi-finals for this year’s Eurovision come to a close, initial viewing figures show a drop compared to last year.

Eurovision 2024, taking place in the Swedish city Malmo, has been mired in controversy after the decision to maintain Israel’s inclusion in this year’s competition.

This is despite protestors demands to pull them out over the country’s ongoing assault in Gaza which has resulted in an estimated 35,000 casualties and 77,000 injured.

The calls to boycott the annual singing competition – in which Olly Alexander is representing the UK with Dizzy – culminated in Wednesday night’s Jury performance of Hurricane from Israel entry Eden Golan getting drowned out by boos and chants of Free Palestine.

Now figures on the number of UK audiences tuning in watch the first semi-final on Tuesday night prove the competition’s fall from grace with an almost half-a-million dip from last year’s event.

Although last year saw 2.3million viewers swtching on BBC One to catch the first semi-final hosted in Liverpool, this year there were only 1.9million, courtesy of super TV.

Eden Golan performig October Rains at the second semi final (Picture: REUTERS)

Although boycotters may celebrate at the news of lowered numbers, these figures are also the highest ratings a first semi-final has received outside of a hosting year.

During the Eurovision 2022 semi-final in Italy which aired on BBC Three in the UKthe semi-finals totted up 545,000 viewers.

The switch to the main BBC channel in 2023, which continued into this year, could have also contributed to the heightened figures.

Olly has been a vocal pro-Palestine voice since Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza began in October last year. Over 450 queer artists signed an open letter demanding the It’s A Sin star remove himself from the competition earlier this year.

Olly has been under pressure to withdraw for weeks (Picture: Getty/AFP)

The first semi final is the most watched outside the UK hosting years (Picture: EPA)

Although fans called for Olly to withdraw from the compeititon in solidarity with Palestine, he decided to go ahead with his appearance.

The pressure had got to the UK act and he told the Times he was on the brink of a ‘breakdown’ after being spotted looking down at a Eurovision party.

‘It was tough… I just could not get it together and then I felt ashamed of myself and embarrassed.’ he said.

‘I wish for peace and I have found this experience, at times, extremely… I’ve just felt really sad and distressed.

‘But I still believe it’s a good thing when people come together for entertainment. That’s why I wanted to do Eurovision.’

In a recent statement Olly joined Irish artist Bambi, among other contestants to call for an ‘immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages’.

Tensions are continuing to rise in the host city Malmo as well as police step up surveillance measures.

They announced the use of flying cameras to monitor the population over a period of nine days, adding their ‘mission is to make sure that the event can be carried out safely and securely’.

The Eurovision Grand Final takes place this Saturday May 11 at 8pm on BBC One.

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