If you’ve been watching Eurovision for the past few years, you’ll know that Australia have become a regular fixture among those taking part.
In fact, they’re back again this year, with singer Kate Miller Heidke making her bid to score the land down under’s first ever Eurovision win.
And no doubt her appearance will bring with it the usual questions about just how long Australia’s been a part of the song contest, and just what they’re doing in it when they’re nowhere near Europe.
Just to clear things up on that front, let’s give you a brief reminder of their Eurovision history…
When did Australia first take part in Eurovision?
Australia was first invited to take part as a special ‘guest country’ back in 2015 as part of the song contest’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
The invitation was extended to them on the basis that they’re huge fans of Eurovision in Australia, with the show having been broadcast on SBS there every year since 1983.
As special guests in 2015 they were qualified directly to the final, and did rather well – with their entrant Guy Sebastian and his song Tonight Again finishing in fifth place at the contest in Vienna.
Why did Australia stay in Eurovision?
Although the participation was only ever meant to be a one-off (unless they won it that is), but Guy’s success spurred Australia on to continue in the contest in 2016, although since then they’ve had to compete in the semi-finals.
Having made the top five in 2015, they did even better in 2016, with Dami Im’s Sound Of Silence coming close to winning the entire contest.
The former X Factor Australia winner was in the lead following the jury votes at the contest in Stockholm, but following the announcement of the public votes was pipped at the post by Ukraine’s Jamala with her song 1944.
Their participation continued in 2017, with Isaiah Firebrace’s Don’t Come Easy finishing ninth in Kiev.
Meanwhile, Jessica Mauboy – who had performed during the interval at the 2014 contest in Copenhagen – stepped up to the plate to perform Australia’s fourth entry, We Found Love, in Lisbon – but only finished in 20th place.
What is this year’s Australian entry?
While the four previous Australian entries were chosen by an internal selection, this year the public had their say with the first ever national final, Australia Decides, taking place in February.
Winner Kate Miller Heidke fought off competition from the likes of Courtney Act and pop-rockers Sheppard in order to win the ticket to Tel Aviv with her pop-opera track Zero Gravity.
Regardless of where they finish this year, you can expect to see Australia in the contest for a while yet, as SBS recently confirmed they’ve signed up for at least the next five years.
SBS Commissioning Editor Josh Martin said: ‘SBS has been the home of the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia for 35 years and we’re thrilled at this invitation to become a more permanent member of the Eurovision Song Contest family.
‘We will continue to showcase Australia’s amazing talent and diversity to hundreds of millions of people across Europe and the world.’
Australia will compete in the first Eurovision Song Contest 2019 final on Tuesday 14 May in their bid to win a place in the grand final on Saturday 18 May.
The semi-finals will air on BBC Four on Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 May at 8pm with the final on Saturday 18 on BBC One from 8pm.
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