Nordic Eurovision excitement

Yes, the Melodifestival is finally over for another year. After weeks of battling it out, Sweden has finally chosen its entrant for charlotte-pirrelli-trophythis year's Eurovision Song Contest. Over 4 million Swedes tuned in to the 2 hour extravaganza, which like last year was hosted by TV host and comic Kristian Luuk, who also hosted all of the 5 semi-finals leading up to the big night.

It’s an honour and it’s a lot of fun and in a strange way, you’re sort of in your job all the time because Monday morning when you think everything is fine – you turn on the radio and everybody is talking about the show and things you’ve been doing there and so on. So, it’s a strange 6 weeks.

What’s the worst thing that can happen on stage?

Actually, it would involve some of the acts that are singing. Because then we have to change the competition – they have to start again and the rules have to be checked and so on. From my point of view, nothing can go bad, actually, because I’m not so important.

Host Kristian Luuk. The contest this year was deemed as being wide open, with several songs predicted to take that victory.

But in the end there can only be one winner. The winner is chosen in two phases, first, 11 regional juries around the country pick their favourites, voting in the traditional Eurovision manner, with the top score being 12 points to their favourite song, tolv poäng.

Charlote Pirrelli

After the jury had their say, Charlotte Perrelli with the song "Hero" was way in the lead. But it wasn't over yet. There were still the public's televotes to be counted. They have just as much sway as the jury with the top score being 132 points awarded by the viewers to their favourite. And the phone lines were still open during the jury voting, so if the general public didn't agree with how the jury was voting, they could still call in to try and change things... And that they did...

The top vote from the people went to Sanna Nielsen, competing for the fifth time in the Melodifestival, but for the first time in English with a ballad. She was overwhelmed by the result.

It’s a big victory for me. The Swedish people, I just want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It feels really huge for me to … to have … I can’t say it … I made it! I did it. I’m so proud and so happy.

Charlotte Pirrelli already won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999, then known as Charlotte Nilsson

But despite getting the top points from the televote it wasn't enough. And the jury's favourite held on to the lead.

Yes, Charlotte Perelli, who has already won the Eurovision Song Contest, back in 1999 when she was called Charlotte Nilsson, is off to Belgrad.

It feels great. My God, I never expected this.

Last time though, you were quite a surprise winner – this year you’ve been tipped as the winner quite a long way – how has the pressure been?

It’s been terrible, actually. You know, you’re so afraid that people will get disappointed if you don’t win. So I was like, okay, just be calm and just see what’s happening. It was great, the jury gave me a lot of points and the people as well, so I feel really comfortable with that.

Now Belgrade. Looking forward to it?

Of course I do!

Good luck!

Thank you very much. I’ll need that!