- The BBC has fired its still unknown British act for the ESC 2026.
- The reason is unacceptable online comments and past behavior.
- The broadcaster is now frantically looking for a replacement for the competition in Vienna.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna is already casting its shadows months before the big finale – and they are dark. As the British “The Sun” reports, the BBC canceled its candidate for the music competition at short notice. The reason: During routine background checks, those responsible came across past online comments and behavior that were classified as “unacceptable”.
The solo artist, whose identity has not yet been publicly known, was summoned to a conversation with BBC executives. The news that awaited him there was devastating: he would no longer be allowed to represent Great Britain at the ESC. The official announcement of the act was actually planned for spring.
Frantic search behind the scenes
“The BBC cannot take any risks with Eurovision, the competition is under enormous pressure this year,” the British tabloid quoted a source close to the production as saying. “The routine checks uncovered past behavior that simply didn’t fit.” The artist concerned was “devastated”. Since the beginning of the year there has been chaos behind the scenes in the search for a new act.
According to the report, the problematic statements are not related to the Middle East conflict – an issue that has overshadowed the ESC for two years. The BBC only confirmed to the Daily Mail that a “rigorous review process” takes place before each nomination. The broadcaster did not comment on the specific incident, but announced that it would present this year’s act “shortly”.
Eurovision in crisis
The scandal hits the competition in an already tense phase. Experts speak of the worst crisis in the history of the contest. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia are boycotting the ESC 2026 because of Israel’s participation. Other countries are considering joining the protest. Stricter voting rules were adopted at the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), but excluding Israel was not up for debate.
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“This is a historic moment for the EBU,” said Eurovision expert Dean Vuletic, describing the situation. We will experience “the biggest political boycott that Eurovision has ever seen”. The pop music spectacle, which attracts more than 100 million viewers every year, has struggled with protests and political tensions since the Gaza war.
Memories of last year’s drama
A short-term withdrawal at the ESC 2025 already caused a stir. The Rwandan-British actor Ncuti Gatwa (33), who was supposed to announce the British jury scores, canceled his participation due to “unforeseen circumstances” – just minutes after Israel secured a place in the final. The “Doctor Who” star had previously spoken out publicly in favor of Palestine. Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor (46) stepped in at short notice as a replacement.
It remains unclear who will represent the British colors musically in Vienna in May.
Gina Sergi (gis), born in 1997, has been working at 20 Minuten since March 2024. She has been head of the People department since September 2025.
