Eurovision 2016: Graham Norton on how he will pay tribute to Terry Wogan

Top-ups at the ready for song number nine

Jess Denham
Monday 09 May 2016 13:09 BST
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Sir Terry Wogan fronted Eurovision from 1971 to 2008 but sadly died of cancer earlier this year
Sir Terry Wogan fronted Eurovision from 1971 to 2008 but sadly died of cancer earlier this year

Late Eurovision legend Sir Terry Wogan will be at the forefront of Graham Norton’s mind when he leads the BBC’s commentary on Saturday night.

Wogan, who sadly died of cancer aged 77 earlier this year, fronted the song contest from 1971 until 2008. His dry, sardonic remarks became synonymous with Eurovision night, despite producer Christer Bjorkman recently accusing him of “totally spoiling” it for British audiences.

Follow the rest of our Eurovision 2016 coverage here

Norton is fully aware of Wogan’s legacy and has praised him for “taking a role that wasn’t really a role at all and totally transforming 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,” he said. “I think this year it will be bittersweet because we will all be thinking of Terry and I am sure I will say a few words about him as the night goes on as it is a night that will forever be associated with him.”

Norton has also revealed that he will be toasting Wogan during song number nine, which is when he said it was time to crack open the Bucks Fizz.

“Sir Terry always warned me not to have anything to drink until that point,” he said. “During song number nine this year the host country Sweden will be performing and I will be encouraging everyone to raise a glass.

“It has all worked out very nicely as Swedish people in the arena will be cheering their song in the stadium as everyone back in the UK will join me and say cheers to the memory and legacy of Sir Terry Wogan.”

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