TV host Rylan Clark has said he reckons Ireland will be in the grand final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Ireland will perform in the first half of this year’s Eurovision semi-final, which takes place in Liverpool on May 9. The final will then take place on May 13.
And Rylan reckons Ireland are in with a chance of qualifying this year alongside Israel and Albania – despite Ireland not yet picking who will represent us at the annual competition.
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He said on Eurovisioncast on BBC Sounds: “Tonight there’s been some good results for a few countries who haven't had that opportunity for a while and haven’t qualified for a while, there are some good positions for countries that have maybe fallen by the wayside in previous years.
"It's tricky for Ireland because I'll be honest, I think Ireland was robbed last year! Brooke was amazing and I think Ireland, Israel and Albania will be in the Grand Final this year.”
Rylan previously admitted last year that Brooke Scullion – who represented us last year – was “robbed” of a place in the final.
“Brooke was robbed this year, she should have qualified, and I even said this live on the BBC, that girl's been robbed, so I took her out in London for a night out. She deserved a night out on me.”
On Friday night, the public will decide who will represent Ireland at the Eurovision.
Six acts will perform on The Late Late Show as the chat show hosts The EuroSong to determine who will represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
The six acts who will compete in this Friday's Eurosong Late Late Show special are ADGY with Too Good for your Love, Connolly with Midnight Summer Night, Wild Youth with We are One, Leila Jane with Wild, K Muni & ND,K Muni & ND, Kofi Appiahand Nevlonne Dampare with Down in the Rain, and Public Image Limited with Hawaii.
The Late Late Show audience will have their say on Ireland's Eurovision representative as viewers will be able to cast their vote and the winner will be decided by a combination of that public vote, an international jury and a national jury.
"This Friday is going to have a big, bright and sparkly line-up of acts," Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy said ahead of Friday night.
"Big stars, big numbers and big expectations because this could well be Ireland’s chance to reclaim their title as Eurovision winners. So, I would say get ready to party and join us for what should be quite the extravaganza."
Last Autumn RTÉ issued a callout on The Late Late Show for artists and songwriters with the talent and ambition to compete and succeed in this highly competitive environment. The final six songs will be performed live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Friday evening.
Eurovision stalwart, commentator Marty Whelan will capture all the backstage action throughout the show as our Green Room correspondent, and Ryan will be joined in studio by an expert Eurovision panel.
The chosen winner on Friday night will go on to represent Ireland at the competition in Liverpool in May.
Liverpool will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, and the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place in the Liverpool Arena next to the River Mersey on Saturday, May 13th, with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th.
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