BBC Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills has confirmed that Sara Cox will replace Rylan Clark-Neal as co-host of the Eurovision semi-finals, after Rylan was forced to pull out due to illness. The semi-finals air on BBC Four on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of Saturday's grand final in Rotterdam.
Speaking on ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday, Scott Mills explained: 'We are not going this year, normally it would be me and the lovely Rylan doing it, but he is not very well - not Covid! He is just feeling very under the weather, so the brilliant Sara Cox is doing the first of the semi-finals.'
Sara Cox confirmed the news on her BBC Radio 2 show, saying: 'I'm really excited, I've got a new little job this week. I will be co-hosting the Eurovision semi-finals on BBC Four tomorrow night and Thursday night. Rylan is unwell, so obvs we wish him better. So I'll be stepping into Rylan's sparkly tux tomorrow and Thursday, 8pm, BBC Four.'
A BBC spokesperson said: 'Unfortunately Rylan is unwell so won't be providing commentary for the upcoming Eurovision Semi Finals on BBC Four, however Eurovision superfan Sara Cox will be joining Scott Mills and Chelcee Grimes live in London bringing viewers all the action from the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam tonight & later this week.'
This is not the first time Rylan has missed Eurovision duties; he also pulled out in 2018 when his husband Dan Neal fell ill. In March, Rylan announced he was taking a break from social media after constant trolling, describing the platform as 'a f***ing sewer' on the Sorted with the Dyers podcast.
