SBS unveils Aus Eurovision jury panel, spokesperson

Despite an online petition to make Shannon Noll Australia’s entry to the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, the gig went to Dami Im. But “Nollsy” is still going to Stockholm this month – as a member of the five-strong Australian jury panel.

SBS reveals that the Australian Eurovision Jury will be chaired by jazz singer and TV presenter Monica Trapaga and also include Double J’s Myf Warhurst, radio and TV identity James Mathison and multi-platinum spinning record producer Craig Porteils who in 2009 penned the Greek Eurovision entry for Sakis Rouvos.

The Australian Eurovision spokesperson will be again SBS’s Logie-nominated world news presenter Lee Lin Chin.

SBS released a spoof video of Im “auditioning” the jury. Warhurst explains she works on a radio station “for old people”, Trapaga thinks she’s been asked to be a contestant (“oh well, next year”), Porteils tells Im of his Greek song entry and is hung upon, Matheson answers the phone referring to himself as a “former teen heart-throb” and Noll in a corner store blasts out a few overwrought verses of What About Me to land his role.

SBS Director of Television and Online Content Marshall Heald said: “This year’s Australian Eurovision jury represents some of Australia’s biggest music fans – not to mention industry legends in their own right.

“I can’t think of a better team to meticulously score the Eurovision contestants’ exciting performances.”

Viewers in Australia and all other participating broadcasters can vote for their favourite songs via the official app, telephone and/or SMS. Australian viewers are eligible only for the second semi-final (in which Im will perform) as well as The Grand Final. The voting window for Semi Final 2 and the Grand Final opens after the last song has been performed, and ends 15 minutes later.

Viewer votes make up 50% of the Grand Final, the other decided by a National Jury assembled in each participating country. Each jury comprises of local music/entertainment figures,

For Australian viewers, this means they will need to tune into the live broadcasts of Semi Final 2 on Friday 13 May from 5am, and the Grand Final Sunday May 15 from 5am in order to cast their vote at the same time as European audiences.

To vote they will need to text or call the numbers that appear on screen during these live broadcasts.