A special Doctor Who Eurovision episode will air ahead of the finale.
Doctor Who season 2’s third-to-last episode airs on Saturday, May 17 at 5pm AEST on BBC iPlayer. Avoid social media until the credits roll to keep the surprises intact. Viewers outside the UK can also watch the show by using a VPN to access.
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has withdrawn as the UK spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest due to “unforeseen circumstances,” with Sophie Ellis-Bextor stepping in to take his place.
This change comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding the event, particularly after Israel secured a spot in the final. During Thursday’s rehearsals, protesters disrupted Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s performance. Six individuals carrying large flags and whistles interrupted his rendition of “New Day Will Rise” during the preview show.
Raphael, who survived the October 7 attacks by Hamas, acknowledged before her performance that she “expected” boos but stayed committed to performing. Regarding Gatwa’s absence, the BBC released a statement saying:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately, Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend. However, we are delighted to confirm that BBC Radio 2’s very own Friday night Kitchen Disco Diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be presenting the Jury result live from the UK.
As part of the statement, Ellis-Bextor said:
I love Eurovision and it’s a privilege to be part of 2025’s Grand Final. What an honour it is to announce the UK’s jury score on such a special show which always puts music front and centre. I am very much looking forward to delivering the iconic douze points from the United Kingdom!
No additional explanation has been provided for the sudden change.
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Gatwa, 32, was announced in May as the UK’s official spokesperson for Eurovision. He was set to announce the points awarded by the UK national jury during the grand finale of the Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland.
His participation was tied to a Doctor Who crossover, with an episode titled “The Interstellar Song Contest” scheduled to air ahead of Saturday’s Eurovision final (17 May). In this sixth episode of the current season, The Doctor (Gatwa) and his companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) travel to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest.
In the episode, the Interstellar Song Contest brings together planets from across the galaxy to compete for the top prize. The event is co-hosted by TV and radio personality Rylan Clark, with Irish presenter and “King of Eurovision” Graham Norton also making an appearance.
Clark provided live commentary on BBC One during the Eurovision semi-finals on 13 and 15 May, and will join presenter Scott Mills to commentate the final on BBC Radio 2. Meanwhile, Norton will handle commentary for BBC One viewers during the final.
Representing the UK this year is girl group Remember Monday with their song “What The Hell Just Happened?”—a tribute to the strong friendship they formed while attending Farnborough Sixth Form in Hampshire.
Among the other countries that made it to the final are Austria’s JJ and Malta’s Miriana Conte. However, Ireland’s entry, Emmy, did not qualify for the final, bringing disappointment to fans. The Eurovision 2025 grand final will feature 26 contestants competing on Saturday.
Here are the finalists for Eurovision 2025, including the “Big Five” — the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — who automatically qualify for the final due to their significant financial contributions to the contest:
- UK: Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?”
- France: Louane – “maman”
- Spain: Melody – “ESA DIVA”
- Italy: Lucio Corsi – “Volevo Essere Un Duro”
- Germany: Abor & Tynna – “Baller”
- Switzerland: Zoë Më – “Voyage”
- Armenia: PARG – “SURVIVOR”
- Austria: JJ – “Wasted Love”
- Denmark: Sissal – “Hallucination”
- Finland: Erika Vikman – “ICH KOMME”
- Greece: Klavdia – “Asteromáta”
- Israel: Yuval Raphael – “New Day Will Rise”
- Latvia: Tautumeitas – “Bur Man Laimi”
- Lithuania: Katarsis – “Tavo Akys”
- Luxembourg: Laura Thorn – “La Poupée Monte Le Son”
- Malta: Miriana Conte – “SERVING”
- Norway: Kyle Alessandro – “Lighter”
- Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
- Sweden: KAJ – “Bara Bada Bastu”
- Iceland: VÆB – “RÓA”
- Netherlands: Claude – “C’est La Vie”
- Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – “GAJA”
- San Marino: Gabry Ponte – “Tutta L’Italia”
- Estonia: Tommy Cash – “Espresso Macchiato”
- Portugal: NAPA – “Deslocado”
- Ukraine: Ziferblat – “Bird of Pray”
The Eurovision 2025 grand final takes place on Saturday, 17 May, and will be broadcast live on BBC One starting at 8pm.