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Reposted by ESC Ben

Eurovangelists @eurovangelists.com · 23/04/2026

It’s the #MaxFunDrive and we’re talking this year’s music videos alongside @itsescben.bsky.social! As it turns out, four ESC fans can still find *some* consensus on both what they love and what they can’t stand - but let us know if you disagree! maximumfun.org/episodes/eur...

maximumfun.org

Episode 115: Music Video Recap 2026 | Maximum Fun

The Eurovangelists are joined by itsESCBen to talk about this year’s crop of music videos.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

If these are the rule changes designed to placate the boycotting countries - and said countries are placated - then shame on them. It would be clear to me then that they don’t understand the core issues of the contest and their boycott threats were somewhat of a ‘popular’ publicity stunt.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Any excitement I had for Eurovision 2026 has completely vaporised this morning. Those ‘changes’ - if you can even call them that - are an absolute disgrace. A total waste of time. As much I wanted juries back in the SFs, that was way down the list of the problems that needed solving. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Unacceptable. Absolutely no one should be celebrating this. This doesn’t even remotely touch the surface of the problems. Reducing to five votes wouldn’t have made any difference, let alone TEN. We’ll just be having the same conversation about the televote this time next year. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I was just about to post the same thing lol - I can’t find a source of it either and, yeah, would be noticeably earlier than usual if true.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Very inconsiderate scheduling of national finals by broadcasters this year 😂 That’s three now on 28 February (excluding small matter of Melfest Heat 5) to add to the FIVE on 14 February, with nothing (so far) on the Saturdays immediately before those two dates. Space them out more! #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 As an Arsenal fan, I’m so glad it was Kieran Tierney! Fantastic! #SCODEN

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Think he’s getting carried away with everything tbh. To get to a record number, you need another FOUR on top of what we’ve got already… and then no boycott. I reckon Canada would do 2026. I suspect the talks have been going on much longer than we think. May have already said yes privately.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

🇪🇸 More Spanish heartbreak in Turin… #Eurovision #ATPFinals

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

🌓 Happy Eurovision Equinox Day! 🌓 Today marks the exact halfway point between the Eurovision 2025 and 2026 Grand Finals! 🇨🇭 Eurovision 2025 - 182 days ago 🇦🇹 Eurovision 2026 - 182 days from now #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The only way to combat that is to change the voting system which will also tackle the diaspora voting to some extent as well. The 20 votes system practically encourages it. No disrespect to Poland and Lithuania, for example, but it’s barking mad the UK almost always gives them big televote points.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I think the ad campaigns are an easy thing to blame but it doesn’t deal with the crux of the issue that, plainly and simply, there is a certain percentage of people who will vote for Israel and to a lesser extent, yes, Ukraine 20 times purely to make a political point or out of sympathy.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Depends how you define ‘foul play,’ I guess. If you mean the Ukrainian state isn’t involved with ad campaigns like Israel, then sure, I agree, but I really think the efficacy of 🇮🇱 ad campaigns is blown well out of proportion by Eurofans to be honest. I don’t think they make much, if any, difference.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I’m really no fan of Israel, but there is no evidence at all to say they have fraudulently earned their televote success. It doesn’t take many people to vote 20 times for one country in order to secure a country’s televote 12 points. There are plenty of 🇮🇱🇺🇦 supporters who do that. It’s not right.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

You can send quality entries and your score still be inflated. Both can be true.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

We need a voting system that is as fair as possible for ALL countries, not one that effectively gives two countries a head start. I fail to see what is so controversial about this. Ukraine’s and Israel’s inflated TV scores have a fundamental impact on the competition. It is not acceptable.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I see one of my IG posts seems to have ‘upset’ some people today. I stand by it. I’m not suggesting 🇮🇱 & 🇺🇦 are ‘the same’ but the way they both benefit at ESC because of political/pity voting is the same. That’s just a fact and it’s unfair on the 35+ other artists who take part. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

No one needs to vote for their favourite five times. It is effectively the Eurovision equivalent of vote stuffing. One vote per country tackles the obvious and disgraceful political/pity voting as well as some of the diaspora voting too. It kills multiple birds with one stone.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

📞 Changing it to five votes per country wouldn’t make the slightest bit of difference. It should be ONE vote per country. That way, to receive a country’s 12 pts from the televote, you would require the most *people* to vote for you and not just the most votes. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

🗳️ After *much* deliberation, I have settled on this 👇 #Eurovision #ESC250

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Looking forward to seeing the black or white smoke during the Conclave to elect the next one.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Was getting worried for a minute it wasn’t going to appear in the Top 100! 😅 Infinitely better than the utter garbage they actually sent. #Eurovision #NFC100

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

🇲🇽 I’ve been to Cancun. I… wouldn’t go back. #RaceAcrossTheWorld #RATW

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

🇨🇦 Cynical me again, but the fact that the EBU have already gone public with this suggests the talks are considerably more advanced than “very early stages…” - as they would have to be at this stage (‘only’ four months left to pick an artist/song for 2026) #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

🇨🇦 Need this to happen to test my theory that a Canadian national final, despite the time difference, would still start and finish before Sanremo finishes. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

TRM didn’t have the money to buy a Happy Meal just a short while ago and now they’re holding a national final in the country’s brand spanking new arena. Hmm. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

I’m going to guess Estonia won’t get the same flak for bringing back returning artists as Sweden does… just my two cents 😂 Great lineup though. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

🇧🇬🇷🇴 I wonder what perks come with the ‘please return and save our contest’ package these days. All inclusive two week stay at one of Vienna’s finest hotels on the house? Preferential running order slot? A nice chunk of jury points? #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Well… at least participating broadcasters reveal day in December might be quite exciting this year 😬 Usually we’ve known all the competing countries months in advance but god knows who will be on that final list this year. Even the final list might not be final. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Good news if confirmed. The EBU are clearly though handing out subsidised fees here, there and everywhere in order to keep two semi-finals for Vienna. Could probably just manage it with this plus Moldova and Bulgaria returning (big if still on those fronts) even with the boycott. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Feels like the producers definitely want another Traitor banished before the Final. Can’t see Alan/Cat getting away with that murder #CelebrityTraitors #TheTraitors

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

…other than Martin Green’s atrocious post-Basel open letter. All the while, ORF 🇦🇹 probably have no idea what they’re even planning for (2 semis, 1 semi etc) because no one knows for sure who is going to show up. They’re working at slower than snail’s pace at EBU HQ. Total lack of urgency.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

🇦🇹 Eurovision 2026 begins in exactly 200 days time… and we’re still no closer to solving any of the glaring issues the Contest faces: 🇮🇱 - no one has a clue what’s going on, let’s be honest. Seems to have gone backwards since the summer. 📞 Televote reform - not a peep from the EBU… #Eurovision ⬇️

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

The BBC have blatantly stole this mission idea from the Million Pound Drop 😂 (Channel 4 should bring that back, great show). #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Jesus. I vaguely remember she hung around for a while but had no idea it was for that long 😬

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

I have absolutely no interest in Strictly whatsoever, but I’m glad to see *he* has gone. I’m sure even Ann Widdecombe lasted longer on the show all those years ago. Lol. #Strictly

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I was very surprised (to put it mildly) that they let Georgia host it in the first place, but anyway.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

🇬🇪 The political situation seems to be heading south in Georgia again - lots of videos doing the rounds on social media. Plenty of time for it to cool down, of course, but it’s something to watch ahead of Junior Eurovision in Tbilisi in just over two months. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

That’s desperately sad news about Patricia Routledge. Keeping Up Appearances first aired over ten years before I was born, yet it is honestly one of my favourite shows ever. Watched it back so many times. Just so, so funny. The best character in British TV history in my opinion. RIP Mrs Bucket.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

They have all the dates in the world to choose from and they pick a (likely) clash with FiK 🇦🇱 🤦‍♂️ #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I fear many other broadcasters will take up the same position as DR, but the best we can hope for is that they abstain (which is cowardly in itself). It’s going to be a bumpy road to the vote in November either way.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Pitiful excuse. Israeli broadcaster KAN had two songs rejected by the EBU in 2024 for failing to comply with rules and regulations. It’s one thing to spew the nonsense that Israel should stay in Eurovision because Eurovision should be ‘non-political,’ but this is just a lie. #Eurovision

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Beautiful day for us Arsenal fans (until we lose tomorrow 😂)

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Wouldn’t say I enjoyed it - just knowing what it was and the purpose of it meant it could never be enjoyed. Was interesting though. There were a couple of decent songs (Vietnam’s definitely the best) but most were poor. Sort of felt like a Eurovision national final but on a ridiculous budget.

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ESC Ben @itsescben.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

I’d also add to this that I’d imagine most 🇬🇧 people who don’t really care for or know much about Eurovision probably think it’s bizarre 🇮🇱 are in Eurovision anyway because of ‘geography’, regardless of the current situation. Interesting numbers, but wouldn’t take them too seriously. #Eurovision

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