Latest news with #BBCSounds'
Irish Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 grand final presenters
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 grand final is tonight and fans are eager to find out who will be hosting the world's biggest music event. Throughout this week, excitement has been building with BBC airing the two semi-finals on Tuesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 15, narrowing down the competition. A whopping 37 countries are going to be taking to the stage at St Jakobshalle, Basel, in Switzerland, this evening, Saturday, May 17. As always, talk show host Graham Norton is going to be behind the cameras as the UK's Eurovision voiceover with BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds' coverage presented by Scott Mills and Rylan Clark. So who will be the presenters taking to the main stage to host the grand final of Eurovision 2025? During the semi-finals, it was comedian and presenter Hazel Brugger and former Eurovision performer Sandra Studer who led proceedings. But for the grand final, the pair are going to be joined by Michelle Hunziker who Eurovision has described as 'one of Europe's most beloved entertainers'. Hazel Brugger is an award-winning comedian with a number of accolades under her belt including a German Comedy Award and a Salzburg Bull award. She will once again be sharing the stage for the third time this week with presenter and singer Sandra Studer. Sandra took part in the Eurovision Song Contest herself in 1991 when she represented Sweden and came in fifth place with the song Canzone Per Te. She continues to work closely with Eurovision since her stint on stage, acting as a pre-selection host, spokesperson and commentator. For the big night, Brugger and Studer are going to be accompanied on the main stage by Michelle Hunziker. She is a seasons presenter for various German and Italian shows including Striscia la Notizia, Festival di Sanremo and Wetten, dass…?. Co-executive producers of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Moritz Stadler and Reto Peritz shared that they chose these three women as the night's presenters as they wanted them to bring 'unique versatility' to the stage, including 'comedy, dance and singing'. The 37 countries taking part this year are almost exactly the same as last year's line-up in Malmo, Sweden, apart from Montenegro which is returning for the first time since 2022. Montenegro is replacing Moldova which withdrew from Eurovision 2025 due to 'financial and logistical challenges', according to BBC. The Eurovision Song Contest grand final airs from 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sara Cox joins Radio 2 presenting line-up for Eurovision 2025!
Announced on BBC Radio 2's The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, Sara Cox will be joining Scott, Rylan and Richie Anderson in this year's Radio 2 presenting line-up for Eurovision 2025! Sara and Richie sent voicenotes to Scott revealing that they will both be heading to Basel, Switzerland, to provide the Radio 2 commentary for both of the Eurovision Semi-Finals. Sara said, in full Eurovision style: "You have put on such an amazing show, it gives me great pleasure to reveal that the Semi Final commentary team for Radio 2 will be us, yes, me Sara Cox and him." Richie: "Richie Anderson! Scott, now you know I've loved coming to Eurovision with you over the past few years and doing the commentary last year was a dream come true, although when I was in that tight little booth on my own and I looked to my left and I saw you and Rylan, and looked to my right and saw the duo from Italy, I thought, you know what I need to bring a friend this year, so I am so excited that Sara is going to come along with me." Sara makes her return to the Eurovision Song Contest commentary booth, co-hosting Radio 2 and BBC Sounds' coverage of the Semi-Finals on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May, live from the arena in Basel. They'll be bringing listeners their commentary from St. Jakobshalle arena, as we find out which country's entries will be joining UK act, Remember Monday, in Saturday's Grand Final alongside the acts from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the host country Switzerland. In the first Semi Final, fifteen countries are taking part with the best ten qualifying for the Grand Final on the Saturday night. In the second Semi-Final, sixteen countries are taking part with the best ten qualifying for the Grand Final. In Thursday's Semi-Final, the UK's artist, Remember Monday, will showcase their entry for Eurovision, although as a member of the 'Big Five' countries, the UK automatically qualify for Saturday's Grand Final. Sara also presents her Teatime show live from the centre of Basel on Wednesday 14 May (4-7pm), bringing the lowdown on the first first Semi Final. Expect all the usual Teatime treats with a Swiss flavour! Sara previously commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Scott Mills in Düsseldorf (2011) and Baku (2012) and once again returned to the competition in 2021 when the contest was held in Rotterdam. Richie is a life-long Eurovision fan and has been known to host a Eurovision themed party on the night of the Grand Final. He was in Turin for the competition in 2022, reported live from Liverpool in 2023, and joined the BBC's commentary team last year for the Semi Finals broadcast live from Malmö. Scott and Rylan return as Radio 2 and BBC Sounds' presenters for this year's Grand Final which will be broadcast live on the network. They paired up to host the Grand Final for the first time for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool and in Sweden in 2024, and will be back together again, broadcasting live from the centre of the action in Switzerland getting behind the UK act, Remember Monday, as well as cheering on all the other entries! Scott and Rylan will be hosting the Semi Finals on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer. Eurovision 2025 on the BBC - Everything you need to know KA
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis names three best fixed-rate Cash ISAs that can be opened right now
Martin Lewis has shared the top three fixed rate Cash ISAs to open right now - as he urged savers to take advantage of them while they are still available on the market Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has just revealed the top three fixed-rate Cash ISAs worth your attention. Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Sounds' Money Saving Expert Money Show, which he co-hosts with Adrian Chiles, the finance expert and well-known face from BBC and ITV delivered the goods. Martin, 52, shared his insights: "Now let me move on to top fixed rate Cash ISAs. Here, the rate is locked in, they cannot drop the interest rate on you. So, for one year you've got UBL UK at 4.31%, minimum £2,000, Zopa at 4.3%, minimum £1, and the big name here is Santander at 4.25% minimum £500." Looking at two-year fixes, he recommended Progressive Building Society at 4.3%, minimum £500, UBL UK at 4.26%, minimum £2,000, and the more well-known Santander at 4.1%, minimum £500. He went on to clarify that fixed-rate Cash ISAs are unique: "Now what's interesting about fixed rate Cash ISAs, unlike fixed rate normal savings, is the Cash ISA regulations mean they cannot lock your money away." This means that, contrary to fixed-rate savings accounts where you trade accessibility for a guaranteed rate, "With fixed rate Cash ISAs, they have to allow you access to your money but they normally charge you an interest rate penalty for 90 or 180 days." The penalty could result in losing up to half a year's interest, so Martin advised against these options if you're likely to withdraw your funds due to foreseeable circumstances, reports Birmingham Live. However, he highlighted one upside: "But the advantage of them is, if you think there's a very slight chance you need to access your money, then a fixed rate Cash ISA will always allow you to do that if you take an interest rate hit." According to Mr Lewis, fixed-rate savings are intended to secure money for a specified period, offering rate stability in return. Money Saving Expert further explains that if you're opening a fixed cash ISA, you'll typically need to deposit the amount you're saving within a two-to-four-week timeframe.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Kyle Walker Podcast returns for season 2 on BBC Sounds
BBC Sounds' The Kyle Walker Podcast is returning for a second season on Thursday 3 April. Now playing for a new team, in a new league, in a new country, the England defender opens up on how his career has changed in this 10-part series. Episode 1 is available to listen to on BBC Sounds now, as well as watch on BBC Sounds YouTube from 6pm on Thursday 3 April. In this season, Kyle and his good mate, former Man City, Tottenham and Sheff Utd midfielder Michael Brown, talk about life at one of the world's most historic and glamorous clubs: AC Milan. He reveals the challenges as he adapts to La Dolce Vita in Italy, while continuing to discuss what it's like taking on some of the world's top players and teams at the very highest level. As well as discussing his personal journey, Kyle shares his thoughts on the latest football news from England and be joined by some of his good mates from his time in the game. In episode 1 the pair discuss their hopes of getting footballing legends Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the podcast. Stay tuned to find out if the duo are successful in their quest. There are 10 episodes of The Kyle Walker Podcast with more to follow later this year in collaboration with BBC Three. RM4
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It highlighted all the flaws City have got'
It was a chastening night for defending Premier League champions Manchester City against Champions League holders Real Madrid as they lost 3-1 (6-3 on agg) at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to exit the competition. Speaking on BBC Sounds' Football Daily Champions League debrief after the match, former goalkeeper Paul Robinson agreed that "it was clear to see" a huge gulf exists between Real Madrid and Manchester City. "You watch that game and these two teams that played each other last year, it was almost role reversal the way Manchester City overpowered Real Madrid and how strong they looked," he said. "The difference in the two sides today was so obvious to see. Real Madrid haven't improved that much that they have gone above Manchester City, it's how far Manchester City have actually dropped off and the lack of self-belief in that side." It is the earliest that Manchester City have exited the competition since the 2012-13 season when they were eliminated in the group stage and Robinson was particularly scathing of their defence on the night, stating: "I use the words susceptible and vulnerable, that's what they look like as a defence. Every single time Real Madrid got the ball, they looked scared. "There was holes all over in this Manchester City defence. They were pulled apart, there was no confidence, no communication and they're certainly a different Manchester City team to the one that played in the Champions League last year. They're miles off it, they really are. "We've seen them lose games in the Premier League that we won't expect them to lose but you look at their record in the Champions League, losing away at Sporting Lisbon 4-1, losing against Juventus, the way that they capitulated at Paris Saint-Germain. "There's been signs of their form and results coming back in the league but I think tonight was a bad highlight, it highlighted all the flaws that they've got." Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
