A host of well-known stars have sent good luck messages to Eurovision hopeful Brooke Scullion as she gears up for her performance at the song contest.
The Derry native performs That’s Rich in the second semi-final Thursday night in Turin in Italy, hoping to qualify in this year’s final this Saturday. Viewers can watch on RTE Two at 8pm.
Today, Brooke was surprised with a compilation of good luck messages in between her final rehearsals.
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Celebrities including Meghan Trainor – who mentored Brooke on the Voice UK - and stars from the world of music and TV including Brooke’s favourite singer, Mika, JC Stewart, Nicky Byrne, Ronan Keating, Una Healy, B*Witched, Ryan Tubridy, Brian Dowling, Steve Carrigan, Nathan Carter, Dustin the Turkey.
Meghan said: “Hi superstar Brooke, I love you and miss you. Good luck on Eurovision. You’re going to slay. That’s Rich is a smash. I love you, have so much fun and remember how talented and amazing you are.”
Ronan Keating said: “You are an absolute legend. To stand up on that stage and to wear the Irish colours is a powerful thing. I wish you all the best and we will be watching and voting.”
Ireland’s first Eurovision winner and fellow Derry Girl, Dana, wished Brooke luck ahead of her semi-final performance at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Dana said she’s confident the 23-year-old will make it to the final.
She said: “I’m not worried for Brooke because honestly all she has to do is go up there and give it her best shot, she’s so engaging. The song is such fun and they’ve changed the arrangement slightly and she’s changed her outfit. I think she is going to do very well.
“She has a very good voice. It’s a good strong song, all you can do is give it your best shot,” she told Ray D’Arcy on his RTE Radio One show.
Speaking about Dana previously, Brooke told us: “I have heard from Dana. Dana has been really really good. I’ve called her a few times and she’s called me so she’s going to be a big help I think, a really good mentor.
“She’s a great rapport with people.”
Dana said she is always nervous for the Irish entry but said Brooke is “well prepared”.
“She’s got her family around her and that will give her a lot of support,” she added.
Elsewhere, Paddy Power has revealed bookies could lose €1 million if Ireland win the Eurovision this year.
In the past 24 hours, patriotic Irish punters are getting behind Brooke and her song That’s Rich, forcing Paddy Power to cut her odds from 300/1 into 250/1 to win the competition outright ahead of Thursday night’s second semi-final.
In fact, despite sitting at odds of 1/5 not to qualify for Saturday night’s final, Ireland have been cut from a price of 9/2 into 3/1 to make it through.
Rachael Kane, a spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Astonishingly, against all odds (literally), Irish punters are backing Brooke to get into the final for Ireland, and our traders have seen 10 times more bets on them to qualify when compared to every other nation represented in Thursday night’s semi.”
The next most popular selection to make it through to the final is Israel, with the bookie reporting they have cut their price from 7/2 into 9/4 to qualify.
After the first batch of nations performed in last night’s qualifying round, Paddy Power revealed that Moldova were the big market mover, having been cut from 400/1 this morning to a current price of 60/1.
Eurovision fans fond of a flutter began backing Moldovan Eurovision legends Zdob și Zdub, who returned for their third shot at winning the contest, this time joined by folk band the Advahov Brothers.
“We looked into the sudden burst of support for Zdob și Zdub and their song ‘Little Train’ and have concluded that backers have gone off the rails. To our mind, this song doesn't quite match the heights of the drumming granny or the pointy hatted unicyclist from 2005 and 2011 respectively, so we just can see the draw,” added Mrs Kane.
Viewers can watch the messages of well-wishes for Brooke here.
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