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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jess Flaherty

BBC presenter Naga Munchetty under fire for 'outrageous slur' over Eurovision

Naga Munchetty has been accused of using an "outrageous slur" about Eurovision on Friday's instalment of BBC Breakfast.

The famed presenter, 47, came under fire for comments made about the popular song-writing contest, which airs this weekend.

Co-hosting alongside Charlie Stayt on Friday, May 13, the BBC presenters spoke with media and arts correspondent David Sillito, in a live cross to Turin, Italy, where this year's Eurovision will be held.

David Sillito was previewing the event, with the discussion turning to those tipped to win the popular Song Contest. Ukraine are favourites this year, with Charlie quipping that he refused to read the autocue about the "growing optimism" of the UK potentially winning Eurovision 2022.

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty was slammed for an 'outrageous slur' during Eurovision chat (BBC)

Both he and Naga agreed the UK's entry - Sam Ryder - will not win Eurovision, though he is reportedly third favourite with the bookmakers.

Charlie continued: "I am not going to read what it was going to say. I'm not going to say that. What it says it might finally be the UK's year, but we all know that is not going to happen because Ukraine has tipped everything on its head and changed things right?"

Naga added: "The UK's entry Sam Ryder is right up there among the favourites for the final. Now, here is us predicting, what do we know?"

The presenters then introduced David via video link, with Naga going on to ask a polarizing question. The presenter asked: "That was our speculation about how the voting would go, and I would not say it's a fair process always, would you?"

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt discussed Eurovision on Friday's show (BBC)

David replied: "I would say it is evidently fair, that's an outrageous slur on poor Eurovision there, it is also entirely unpredictable. You do not know what is going to go on and what drama we have had at the semi-finals. Poor Ireland, poor, poor Ireland is out. There was such hope they would get through to the final.

"You have got to remember Ireland is Eurovision royalty having won, I think, seven times. Serbia and Finland were through and they are truly an example of how bizarre Eurovision can be. What I mean by UK's year is a top 20 finish at least, that's as far as I am going.

"However, yesterday I got to meet Sam Ryder, we had some time together, and the only thing you can say is wherever you are in Turin at the moment you keep on hearing his song Spaceman and there is a bit of a buzz about it."

The Sun reports Ukraine is favourite to win at 2/5 with their entry, Kalush Orchestra who will perform their song Stefania. Founder of the largest Eurovision fan-site, William Lee Adams, said the war in Ukraine "could push things in their favour".

Despite the UK's poor Eurovision history in the 21st century, singer and songwriter Sam Ryder is second favourite to win. His odds are 11/2.

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