Conchita Wurst to return to Eurovision next year as presenter
By Josh Haggis
Conchita Wurst has been announced as one of the hosts of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The bearded entertainer – who won the contest for Austria earlier this year with her performance of ballad Like A Phoenix – will support the ceremony’s main presenters by hosting the action from the Green Room in Vienna on May 23 next year.
“[Conchita] won the contest with her personality, voice and song for Austria. She did not take the first but the most powerful Austrian step in the fight for self-determination and respect in Europe and the world,” said Kathrin Zechner, from broadcaster ORF.
She continued: “The slogan of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is Building Bridges, which stands for bridges between countries, age groups, tradition and contemporary, supported by the pillars of respect and self-determination.”
“For me it is important to make these powerful, society-shaping women visible to an audience of some 200 million Europeans in a show Austria can be proud of,” she added.
Conchita unveiled the music video for her new single Heroes last month (November) – watch it here.
Meanwhile, former Eurovision commentator Sir Terry Wogan recently caused controversy by claiming that the 25-year-old’s victory turned this year’s Eurovision into a “freak show” – read more here.
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