Doctor Who star replaced as Eurovision spokesperson due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

www.independent.co.uk /arts-entertainment/music/news/ncuti-gatwa-eurovision-doctor-who-b2752237.html

On Thursday, the BBC tweeted:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend.

Instead, Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be calling out the UK's points.

According to Scottish newspaper The national,

The BBC's announcement came during the second semi-final, reportedly just minutes after Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael qualified for the final.

16 comments

The BBC’s announcement came during the second semi-final, reportedly just minutes after Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael qualified for the final.
Are they trying to draw a connection here, and if so, does it hold any weight?
- Somebody pulled up two tweets, one pronouncing the finalists, and the BBC's announcement that Gatwa wouldn't be presenting — there was a 2 minute time difference. It seems too short a time to make any decisions, but he may have had stipulations for appearing?
  I don't want to make any more assumptions than the National quote above, but I have thoughts about Who depicting Eurovision-by-proxy as a fun, apolitical event, where a competing country just happens to commit ongoing atrocities...
  Now, if RTD and the BBC had the guts to pull a "Happiness patrol" on that particular escapism, well played — but I don't think it's in the cards.
- I was wondering that as well, if he pulled out due to moral issues with Israel then respect.
  But if they are just using deceptive language to stir up bullshit then, well I guess thats par for the course these days.
  
  If and until we have any official statement about his reasons to bow out, everything is conjecture. Maybe I shouldn't have added the National quote in retrospect, but I do think it adds perspective to the larger event.
  
  The burden is not on you, you were were only quoting the article.
  
  I think it's worth mentioning, assuming the National is a respectable publication (I really don't know my UK media).
  
  It’s very anti-BBC.
  
  I'll tell you this, though — Amy Pond and Twelve have both taught me not to include Scotland under the United Kingdom 😉

16 comments