NRK reveal numerous changes ahead of Melodi Grand Prix 2025.
The Norwegian broadcaster has confirmed that there will be changes made to the upcoming edition of Melodi Grand Prix in 2025, with the most notable change being the removal of the semi finals.
For the first time since 2019, Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix will be comprised of just one grand final; no semi finals or second chance rounds in sight. The final will take place on February 15th at Oslo Spektrum for the first time since 2018, and will see ten acts competing. The ten artists competing in Melodi Grand Prix 2025 will be revealed on January 16th during a press conference.
The show will be hosted by Marte Stokstad, Tete Lidbom and Markus Neby. Journalist and television presenter Marte Stokstad has previously hosted Melodi Grand Prix in 2012, and is excited to be returning: “I am really looking forward to this. The last time I officiated the MGP Final was in 2012 and I haven’t lost interest in the competition since then. It does happen that artists get to try again in this competition, and it’s good to see that this also applies to presenters. This is a long-awaited reunion for me.”
Musician, television presenter and radio host Markus Neby had a support stint in the 2024 edition as a reporter, but is looking forward to having a main role as host next year: “Melodi Grand Prix has been one of the highlights of the year for me since I was a child. When I worked in P3morgen, we also made an alternative Eurovision broadcast focusing on everything about this circus that is comical. It’s not a little to deal with. After all, this is the purest form of hit song competition, where it’s about catching as many people as possible in the shortest time. I’m looking forward to doing this with the good and seasoned Marte, and also Tete, although I dread feeling underdressed next to him.”
Melodi Grand Prix 2025 will be radio host Tete’s first time being involved in the show, but it almost didn’t happen: “I didn’t actually accept right away, but after I asked who I should lead it with, there was no doubt. After all, MGP is Norway’s biggest music festival, and I don’t think there are many people who love such a wide range of music as I do. In MGP there is room for everything, and that is perhaps what I like most… It’s great that MGP is both the place where artists break through, make a comeback and change their style. It shows that in MGP anything is possible, and it fits well with my philosophy of life.”
Folk metal band Gåte are the most recent winners of Melodi Grand Prix with “Ulveham”. The band just made the top 10 in semi final two, where they went on to finish in 25th place in the final. The last time we saw just one show for Melodi Grand Prix was in 2019 with KEiiNO as the Norwegian representatives. They qualified comfortably where they went on to become the televote winners in the final with 291 points. Combined with an 18th place jury finish, the ended the night in 6th place overall.
Are you excited for Melodi Grand Prix 2025? What are your thoughts on the changes being made to next years contest? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below!
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
