Eurovision viewers were left frustrated within minutes of the 2024 contest's semi-final on Saturday night, as audio problems marred the broadcast. Fans took to social media to complain about being unable to hear UK commentator Graham Norton, who was providing live commentary for the BBC.
As the show began, Norton's voice was barely audible, prompting a flood of complaints on X (formerly Twitter). One viewer pleaded: "Ok BBC can we sort the sound out, I wanna hear Graham!" Another added: "Sort ya sound out, Graham," while a third noted: "Dodgy sound there."
Addressing the issue, Norton explained: "I think there might have been some problems with my microphone at the beginning." While his audio improved after the clarification, some viewers continued to experience sound difficulties.
The incident came amid broader disruptions to the contest, following the disqualification of Dutch act Joost Klein. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed Klein would not compete in the grand final after a complaint of inappropriate behaviour by a female production crew member. Swedish police are investigating the incident, which occurred after his semi-final performance.
The EBU stated: "We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff." As a result, the grand final proceeded with 25 participating songs, and jury results were recalculated to exclude the Netherlands from receiving points.
