What was that? At the Eurovision Song Contest, a woman in the audience amazed the viewers on the screen.
Around 6,000 fans celebrate live in the audience at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. And there are millions in front of the screens across Europe. They got to see a short scene on Saturday evening, which only lasted a few seconds – but caused all the more disturbed reactions.
A woman in the audience sat with her legs apart behind presenter Hannah Waddingham, poking a stick into a bucket in a maddeningly exaggerated manner. While Waddingham moderated Albania’s next appearance, the woman in the background drew attention to herself with this action. Snippets of this oddity quickly went viral on social media.
But the spectators were puzzled: was that a number deliberately built in by the organizers – or was it a prank? In fact, this is not entirely certain. One thing is clear: the woman is not unknown. British comedian Mel Giedroyc. It was she who was stirring butter behind Hannah Waddingham.
Did Mel Giedroyc remind you of Poland with the action?
According to information from the British magazine “Telegraph”, Giedroyc is said to have spent most of the evening next to Graham Norton in the commentary booth, but was then given the opportunity to come in front of the camera for a short cameo appearance. “Oh, there’s Mel Giedroyc literally milking it,” Norton joked, according to the report on British television. “I want to see Mel make some more butter.”
But the action also seems to be a homage – to a performance by Poland in 2014.
Donatan & Cleo performed for the East Europeans back then. In folklore dresses they performed a musical: “My Słowianie – We Are Slavic”. Including dancers pounding butter and scrubbing across a washboard in a wooden bucket. That’s exactly what the British Mel Giedroyc did in her short appearance.
By the way, Donatan & Cleo made it to 14th place with their performance. Will this year’s candidates from Poland also succeed? The singer Blanka sang the song “Solo” and started the competition in fourth place.
