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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Tom Bryant

Eurovision bosses brace themselves for eco-protesters to disrupt singing contest

BBC bosses fear that fear eco-protestors could target Eurovision - with host Rylan Clark admitting they are “hard to stop”.

Execs have been working with police to devise a plan to minimise any potential disruption to the grand final on May 13, at Liverpool Arena.

But Rylan, who is fronting the live coverage of the event on BBC Radio 2, said that it would be hard to crack down on any potential protests on the night.

He said: “What you have got to understand is if there is a standing audience in front of a stage, even if there is a two metre pit before the stage, these things can happen.

“Ultimately people can try and do what they want and no-one is ever going to be able to stop that. There are no tickets this year left but it is hard to stop someone.

“However everything is in place to make sure that does not happen and the welfare of the acts, the presenters and the crew is paramount.”

Organisers fear eco-protesters will target the Eurovision set (Nick Robinson)

The chief superintendent of Merseyside Police has previously warned people not to try and “embarrass” Eurovision.

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Davies said that while no specific protest has been announced, the force is “planning” for the possibility after a recent spate of protests.

Merseyside police recently dealt with a protest at the Grand National.

The World Snooker Championships, in Sheffield, were also stopped by another campaigner.

He said: “We’re planning for it, I’m happy with the level of planning. We just ask that people don’t try and embarrass it or cause problems for themselves because 161 million people will be watching this.

“I think we just need to understand how important it is to the people of Ukraine that we deliver a safe, respectful event on their behalf.”

Eco-protesters targeted the World Snooker Championships earlier this month (PA)

This year’s UK entry is Mae Muller.

And Rylan is not afraid of the UK performing badly after last year’s high point which saw Sam Ryder narrowly lose to Ukraine.

He said: “Not at all. We have got so much faith in Mae. She just gets it and has been performing for years.”

His Radio 2 co-host Scott Mills added: “What happened with Sam last year, that hardly happens to anyone so what we have got to do now is keep the momentum going and excitement and not go back to those conversations that have stopped now like 'Oh the rest of Europe hate us.' They don’t, they just want us to send someone good.”

A BBC spokesman said of the protest threat: “We take the safety of attendees and staff at all events very seriously.

"We have, and continue to, work closely with relevant authorities and partners throughout the planning of Eurovision on all aspects of safety and security for the event.”

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