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Eurovision Song Contest host Graham Norton has revealed that his retirement from fronting the BBC’s coverage of the competition’s grand final will depend on his continence.
The beloved 63-year-old Irish presenter, who replaced the late Terry Wogan as the voice of the contest in 2008 after his 35-year stint, said the show’s gruelling schedule, which sees stars film for four hours straight, doesn’t allow for “wee breaks” throughout the lengthy broadcast.
“When will I retire? I will see what happens,” Norton told The Guardian. “I can still hold my wee in for four hours,” he added. “So, I think my retirement will be based on my bladder.”
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 grand final takes place tonight in Vienna, Austria, with the UK competing against favourites including Finland, Greece and Australia.
Look Mum No Computer (real name Sam Battle) will perform his zany UK entry “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, around halfway through the competition.
As one of the “Big Four” countries that make the largest financial contributions to Eurovision, the UK is guaranteed a spot in the final along with France, Italy and Germany, and Austria thanks to its role as this year’s host.
Spain – the fifth country typically guaranteed a spot in the final due to its broadcaster making the largest financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – withdrew from this year’s contest in protest over Israel’s participation.
‘You don’t get wee breaks’: Norton on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final in 2023 (Getty)
Last year, UK entry Remember Monday became the second British act in a row to be awarded nul points in the public vote after Olly Alexander suffered the same fate in 2024.
Norton said his biggest piece of advice for whoever replaces him to front the BBC’s Eurovision coverage would be to find out which plane the UK’s act is getting home and “be on a different one”.
“It’s a long time to spend with someone who’s probably not very happy,” he said. “There’s only so many positives you can think up to say – and you’ve probably said them all before you’ve even checked in.”
The Independent will be liveblogging the Eurovision 2026 grand final. You can see which countries are through to the final so far here before BBC coverage kicks off at 8pm.