A special custom takes place during song number nine
Graham Norton will host Eurovision(Image: BBC/So TV/Christopher Baines/Matt Burlem)
Eurovision fever has finally returned, with Graham Norton set to reprise his role as the UK’s commentator.
Legions of fans will be waiting for his unmatched critique – and also one very special Eurovision tradition.
As is now customary, Graham pauses momentarily to raise a glass to Sir Terry Wogan during song nine and asks fans across Britain to join him.
Sir Terry was the British voice of the Eurovision Song Contest from 1971 until he passed the baton to Graham in 2009.
Graham previously said: “For those who aren’t aware, song number nine is famous because Sir Terry always warned me not to have anything to drink until that point.”
In 2024, he briefly paused his commentary to pay tribute to Sir Terry, honouring him as the ‘man who always was and always will be the real voice of Eurovision’.
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The UK’s act Remember Monday will perform eighth with ‘What The Hell Just Happened’ – just before Graham’s toast to Sir Terry.
They will be followed by Austria’s entry JJ with ‘Wasted Love, performing song number nine.
Speaking of his love for Eurovision, Graham said: “To be honest I love everything about Eurovision.
“It’s scale and sincerity are unmatched.
“The extreme range of musical styles and talents in the contest combined with the coming together of countries and fans makes it a contest like no other.”
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Sir Terry died in 2016, with the first Eurovision after his death taking place in Stockholm, Sweden.
Graham said at the time that Eurovision is a ‘night that will forever be associated with Terry Wogan’, adding: “Sir Terry Wogan will always be associated with Eurovision.
“He took a role that wasn’t really a role at all and he totally transformed it into the job it is today.
“When I am doing the commentary I still hear Sir Terry in my head as I am sure lots of other people do too.”
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in St Jakobshalle, in Basel, Switzerland.
You can watch it on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm on Saturday, May 17.