Eurovision Song Contest

appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.

— RTÉ said it will not send an act to the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria and will not broadcast the show because of the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.

You say genocide, I say war When you’re attacked, that’s what the army’s for Does it get ugly? You bet it does When I know you wanna kill every last one of us.

— Opening lyrics from Boy George's pro-Israel song 'עוד נרקוד' ('We Will Dance Again'), as quoted in The Independent article about the backlash.

It's funny how the other political parties were so desperate to get rid of Nigel Farage and Reform, but now that they have the opportunity to do so, they are running scared. They are terrified of facing the voters. That's because they know they would be obliterated and Reform UK would prove that it still has the overwhelming support of the public. They are cowards.

— Lee Anderson, Reform UK MP for Ashfield, commenting after rival parties refused to stand candidates against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election.

Now a world star has become a superstar in heaven!

— Florian Silbereisen, host, in his tribute to Bonnie Tyler (posted on Instagram)

Eurovision is considered a 'poisoned chalice'.

— Will Young, who turned down the chance to represent the UK in 2015, described Eurovision as a 'poisoned chalice' and highlighted the career risks involved.