Latest news with #BenPyne
BreakingNews.ie
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Eurovision lawyers called in after 'potential hack of rehearsal footage'
The Eurovision Song Contest has brought in lawyers, following rehearsal footage of the competition being leaked online, after a 'potential hack' of an online feed. Switzerland, where the competition began in Lugano in 1956, will host Tuesday's first 2025 semi-final in Basel. Advertisement Among Tuesday's contestants, Croatia's entry has been written by a primary school teacher from Dublin. Ben Pyne (39) from Balbriggan is part of the team who wrote 'Poison Cake'. It will see the Netherlands return to the stage after their act was kicked out of the competition shortly before the final last year. The song will be performed by Marko Bosnjak in the first semi-final on Tuesday night. Ireland's entry 'Laika Party' by Emmy is song three in Thursday's semi-final. Advertisement When asked about rehearsal leaks at a press briefing on Tuesday, the European Broadcasting Union's Eurovision director Martin Green said: 'We have to send signal out to the juries during those shows and amongst our different members, technology differs in how modern it is. Police secure a street in the city centre ahead of the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland (Martin Meissner/AP) 'And therefore, sadly, if you have the intent to do it, you can potentially hack into that … is what I understand. It's sad that people do that. 'It also shows you what a demand there is out there for it. Every year we manage to tighten up a bit more, and we will continue to do it.' He added that they 'don't want to spoil it for everyone', and his 'understanding is we managed to take a lot of it down, and I will say (the) cyber security team are on it, and our lawyers are on it'. Advertisement An EBU spokeswoman said: 'We regret that despite our best efforts to keep the content of our shows a surprise for the millions watching around the world it's regrettable that some people spoil the experience by publishing dress rehearsal content online. Sweden's KAJ (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP) 'Where possible we work with platforms, EBU Members, cyber security experts and lawyers to remove this content to protect artists and the integrity of the live shows.' It is unclear what was shared, but there was some social media content of excerpts from the dress rehearsals on social media on Monday evening. There have been reports that Canadian singer Celine Dion sent a video message, which aired during rehearsals, wishing the contestants luck, and appearing to rule out her return to the Eurovision stage. Advertisement However, this appeared to be dismissed by Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR which insisted there 'are currently no changes regarding Celine Dion – we are still in close contact with her'. Dion has stepped away from touring in recent years, because of increasing health issues while living with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), but made an emotional comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics singing Edith Piaf's classic Hymne A L'Amour while in the Eiffel Tower. The 57-year-old won in Dublin 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, and there had been speculation that since no further act representing Switzerland won until Nemo clinched victory with The Code last year in Malmo, she would make a comeback this year. Celine Dion (Ian West/PA) The Dutch have placed their hopes on Claude Kiambe, 21, whose entry C'est La Vie reflects on his early musical aspirations and his mother's support. Advertisement He will compete against Sweden representatives and contest favourites, KAJ, with the upbeat comical Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), inspired by the Nordic sauna culture, and Ukrainian group Ziferblat's dramatic track, Bird Of Pray. However, Malmo marketing manager Anna Wittgren has ruled out the city hosting the contest again if KAJ wins, saying it is a 'big undertaking and we have a wide event portfolio to look after and manage', while insisting that the decision was not down to the cost of policing the protests last year because that was a bill covered nationally. She added: 'We look back to 2024 with fond memories but we are happy to let another destination now enjoy the hosting if KAJ wins, and we have plenty of learnings to share.' Protests are expected throughout the week, and a pro-Palestinian group is planning a large demonstration on both Wednesday, and Saturday. The Wednesday action will be a 'silent march' against Israel competing with singer Yuval Raphael, the group Basel for Palestine has said. On Tuesday, a spokesman for Basel police said 'an application for a demonstration is currently still pending', but 'no date' for it has been set. He also confirmed the force received a report of 'threatening gestures during a demonstration', which appeared to be directed at Raphael while she took part in the opening ceremony. Israel's government shared a clip on X from the protest on Sunday, and said: 'Israel's Eurovision representative Yuval Raphael, a Nova massacre survivor, was 'welcomed' in Basel by a hostile crowd of pro-Hamas protesters. 'Yet she stands tall, singing for her country. Her love will always outshine their hate.' Discussions on Israel's participation have been called for by broadcasters from countries such as Spain, Ireland and Iceland, but the EBU has defended Kan's inclusion, saying that it has nothing to do with the Israeli government. Later on Tuesday, Basel-born Zoe Me will perform French language song Voyage for the Swiss, and is already through to the final. The second semi-final - in which Ireland will compete - will start on Thursday from 8pm Irish time, and the final at the same time on Saturday.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Croatia's Eurovision entry was co-written by Irish primary school teacher
As we get ready for Eurovision to kick off in Basel in Switzerland on Tuesday, people in Ireland will have two songs to cheer on. Croatia's entry has been written by a primary school teacher from Dublin. Advertisement Ben Pyne (39) from Balbriggan is part of the team who wrote 'Poison Cake'. The song will be performed by Marko Bosnjak in the first semi-final tomorrow night. Ireland's entry 'Laika Party' by Emmy is song three in Thursday's semi-final. Meanwhile, protesters could target Basel during the week of the Eurovision Song Contest, as Israel's participation continues to generate anger amid the war in Gaza. Advertisement The city is hosting the 2025 contest, after Switzerland's Nemo won last May in Sweden with The Code, which explored them coming to terms with their non-binary identity. About 1,300 Swiss police officers will be on duty in Basel this week, with more forces drafted in from the Swiss Armed Forces, federal police and neighbouring countries – Germany and France – ahead of the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and the grand final on Saturday. Local campaigners Basel for Palestine attempted to place Palestinian flags near the Eurovision opening event, the Turquoise Carpet, on Sunday, and more protests are scheduled for Saturday in the city centre at 7pm. Yuval Raphael representing Israel at the Eurovision Opening Ceremony in Basel. Photo: Harold Cunningham/Getty However despite the expected protests, the Swiss appear confident they will have a Eurovision to remember. Advertisement There has been speculation that former winner Celine Dion will return to the stage, and the Swiss have promised city-wide events such as a food and drink street, 250 hours of live music, and the Eurovision Village. Current favourites to win include KAJ, who are from Finland's Swedish-speaking minority and will represent Sweden, with the upbeat comical Bara Bada Bastu inspired by the Nordic sauna culture. The hit is the first time the country, which is tied with Ireland with the most Eurovision wins, has entered with a song in Swedish since the 1990s, when the rules on competing in a country's official language were relaxed. Basel in Switzerland is the Eurovision host city this year. Photo: Harold Cunningham/Getty Others in contention are Dutch entry Claude Kiambe's C'est La Vie, Austrian singer JJ's Wasted Love, and French singer Louane's ballad Maman. Advertisement Last May, the Netherlands' contestant Joost Klein was kicked out by the EBU just before the final, over alleged verbal threats to a female production worker. The move was heavily criticised by Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, and months later Swedish prosecutors dropped a criminal case against Klein. Entertainment Eurovision star Emmy was 'scared' of Irish judges Read More The EBU conducted a review and pledged a new code of conduct for 2025, with a raft of measures to 'protect' the wellbeing of artists in Basel. This year, former Eurovision competitors such as Ireland's winner Charlie McGettigan, and the UK's Mae Muller, who came second last in 2023, have signed a letter calling for a ban on Israel's public broadcaster Kan, and accusing Israel of 'genocide', which Israel denies. Last week, Irish protesters, including The Crying Game actor Stephen Rea, pushed for an RTÉ boycott of the event. The national broadcaster has written to the EBU to have 'a wider discussion' on Israel's inclusion. The semi-finals and final start at 8pm Irish time and will be broadcast on RTÉ.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
From Balbriggan to Basel – Ireland has another Eurovision entry to keep an eye on in Switzerland this week
While the nation will be cheering on a Norwegian singer, Emmy, who is representing Ireland, at this year's Eurovision, there will also be an Irish entry – from Balbriggan schoolteacher Ben Pyne.
