"I’ve got my eye on the Swedish backup dancers and Romanian rap yodelers at this point."
Following an announcement earlier this month that we'd be saying goodbye to longtime hosts Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang, SBS have announced the new faces of Eurovision 2017 — radio host, TV presenter and all-around legend Myf Warhurst and comedian and resident sequin-lover Joel Creasey.
The duo will be filling the huge shoes left by Zemiro and Pang after eight long years, but SBS managing director Michael Ebeid says Warhurst and Creasey have it in the bag.
"Australians have embraced Eurovision since SBS’s first broadcast more than 30 years ago and as a nation, we feel incredible warmth and admiration for the countries, their cultures, the contest, and what it represents," Ebeid says. "Already loved by Australian audiences, Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst perfectly capture this spirit, and we’re thrilled to welcome them as SBS’s new Eurovision hosts."
Warhurst says, "I truly fell in love with Eurovision back in 1998 when Guildo Horn performed a sweaty bell solo mid song for Germany, and from there, it was love at first sight. I’ve hosted Eurovision parties ever since. It was an honour to be a member of the Aussie voting jury last year, but now, getting into the arena and actually hosting the glittery Olympics of music… It’s an absolute dream gig for me. I’m still pinching myself!"
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Creasey adds, "I couldn’t be more ready to accept the job of Eurovision host, and give Aussies an all-access pass that I think we truly deserve as gatecrashers. I’ve started studying up on this years’ acts and am going to need to map out my plan of dressing rooms to sneak into backstage – I’ve got my eye on the Swedish backup dancers and Romanian rap yodelers at this point."
Competing for Australia this year is X Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace. Eurovision kicks off May 12 to May 14 on SBS.