The history of Australian commentary at Eurovision: 1983 to now

The Eurovision Song Contest has captivated Australian viewers since its first local broadcast on Australia’s national multilingual and multicultural broadcaster SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) back in 1983. 

Over the decades this transcended into an obsessive love for the Contest, and Australian’s had become accustomed to the BBC’s commentary (which was often rather unhinged) by Sir Terry Wogan.

But after 18 years, from 1983 to 2000, it was time to break away from the British (and Wogan’s) perspective of the Contest and make room for a fresh approach with an Aussie flavour to the Eurovision commentary broadcast in Australia. 

2001

Effie Stephanides 

Australia’s first local commentator was Effie Stephanides, a comedic character portrayed by Mary Coustas. She depicted a stereotypical second generation Greek Australian and came to fame from the Australian sitcom ‘Acropolis Now’ which ran on the Seven Network from 1989 to 1992. The show earned Mary Coustas a Logie Award for ‘Most Popular Comedy Personality’ in 1993. 

Effie made a return to the Australian television screens in 2001 where she hosted a satirical series called ‘Effie: Just Quietly’, a show where Effie plunges into everyday Australian life, and of course was bestowed the honoured as the Australian commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. 

SBS attempted a different approach to their Eurovision Song Contest 2001 broadcast overhauling the production. Effie as host and commentator was to give the show an ethnic flavour with comedic relief. The Contest was edited removing the postcards, Eurovision hosts and interval acts. Instead SBS produced the show in a studio with an audience. 

The show included segments where “prominent multicultural Australians introduced songs from countries of their own background” performances by queer cabaret performer Paul Capsis, who performed several Eurovision classics, and a panel of Australians discussing the entries. (Carniel 2018, p.36)  

Audience participation was also encouraged, viewers could call or email and nominate things like best song, best/worst costume, best/ worst dance routine etc. (Carniel 2018) 

Unfortunately, the Australian audience didn't quite warm to this approach and SBS ended up broadcasting the full Eurovision Song Contest 2001 unedited two weeks later. 

This experiment had not worked out as SBS had hoped and Sir Terry Wogan’s BBC commentary returned in 2002. 

2003 - 2004 

Des Mangan

For those not familiar with SBS, the broadcaster is known for their showing of foreign films and documentaries and along with that was the ‘Cult Movie’ show presented by Des Mangan. In 2003 SBS took a different approach and appointed Mangan as the Australian Eurovision commentator. 

He stressed the importance of Australia having a voice for it’s Eurovision broadcast since Australia’s love for Eurovision grew. It was time for Australia to distance itself from Wogan’s heavy British references and comments and give itself it’s own identity. (Mangan 2004)

Over the two years Mangan was commentator, the broadcast included preview shows with comments from famous Australians. 

At the 2004 Contest Mangan was a guest on the BBC’s ESC2004 preview show, which was hosted by Lorraine Kelly and Paddy O’Connell, accompanied by Eurovision 1992 winner Linda Martin. In the show, which you can watch below, O’Connell summed it up best, describing Mangan as “Australia’s Terry Wogan” demonstrating the approach SBS had taken. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGxuaGQiWKg

That year Mangan ended up publishing a history book about Eurovision called ‘This is Sweden Calling’. It’s rather insightful and a must have for any Eurovision nerd.

As much as the broadcaster’s second attempt at having an Australian commentator received good reviews, the Australian audience still hadn’t quite moved on from Wogan. It was understandable, Australians had become accustomed with Wogan on the Australian television screen.

The BBC Eurovision commentary would make its return for a second time on SBS in 2005 up until Wogan’s retirement in 2008. 

Sir Terry Wogan’s departure in 2008 allowed Australian Eurovision fans to accept that Wogan’s tenure had come to an end and the time was right for SBS to wipe the slate clean and allow a smooth transition to new commentators. 

2009 - 2016

Julia Zemiro & Sam Pang 

We first got to see Julia Zemiro “overWHELMED” with excitement over the Eurovision Song Contest when she introduced us to the 2008 Contest before the BBC broadcast. The SBS broadcast also included inserts of Julia during the breaks with quick commentary and flag waving. It’s rather iconic, you can check out the opening here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TOh07IrN5U

With the departure of Wogan after the 2008 Contest, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang stepped up and took their spot, travelling to Moscow to cover the 2009 Contest live on the ground and give us an Australian perspective we so needed. 

Zemiro had been working on the TV show ‘Rockwiz’ and had a genuine passion and huge knowledge about Eurovision. She also took part in many Eurovision stage productions which include ‘Eurovision: The Musical’ in 2003, ‘Euromax 7: The Musical’ in 2004, ‘Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision’ in 2006 (Carniel 2018, p.39).  

Pang on the other hand knew little about Eurovision but had impressed viewers as the host of a history quiz show on SBS called ‘ADbc’. It was a history quiz show which had teams of academics and comedians compete, even Zemiro had featured (Carniel 2018, p.39). 

Over 2009 to 2011, Zemiro and Pang gained backstage access to the Eurovision Song Contest giving Australians backstage footage and showcasing interviews with artists. This gave Australia a strong presence in the Contest and viewership of the Contest grew in Australia. This led to SBS being given a commentator’s box in the 2012 Contest at Baku (Carniel 2018, p.38). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-l6iLY4gMU

The commentators' chemistry just worked along with their humour which they weaved into their dialogue. The Australian audience yearned for more and in 2012 SBS joined forces with their production partner BlinkTV to produce ‘The Road to Eurovision’ where we got to see Zemiro travel around Europe interviewing past and present contestants as she made her way to Baku (Carniel 2018, p.38).  

Australia’s presence was definitely felt! At the semi-final of the 2013 Contest Australia was offered to broadcast a ‘Greetings from Australia’ segment, hosted by Zemiro, celebrating 30 years of SBS broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slaQjKV4LoU

In 2014, Australia got the privilege of having a delegation and being the interval act in the semi-final 2 in the 2014 Contest. Jessica Mauboy made history and performed Sea of Flags to a huge reception and became the first Australian to perform on the Eurovision stage representing Australia. 

Mauboy’s performance along with Australia’s commentary and production of the Contest on SBS made an impression and Australia was invited in a one off, to perform and compete in the 2015 Contest. Zemiro and Pang broke the news to us all. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozubiwmrpz0

After the 2016 Contest, Australian Eurovision fans received the shock announcement that Zemiro and Pang were no longer going to be the Australian commentators. The official reason they both gave for leaving was clashes with their other work (for Zemiro it was in TV and film while Pang also worked in radio), but Julia has admitted the inclusion of Australia changed her perspective on the Contest (Carniel 2018, p.39). 

2017 - 2024

Myf Warhurst & Joel Creasey

After the shock departure of Zemiro and Pang, TV personality and radio presenter Myf Warhurst and comedian Joel Creasey took the reigns as the Australian commentators for the Eurovision Song Contest at SBS making their debut for the 2017 Contest in Kyiv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0osSt2Hfl_g

Warhurst, a radio announcer and television personality, is well known for her work as radio presenter at Triple J (a government funded national Australia radio station that plays predominantly alternative and indie music), and on the popular long running music-themed quiz show ‘Spicks and Specks’ which was hosted by Adam Hills. Before taking over the commentary role, Warhusrt was actually a member of the Australian jury at the 2016 contest. Fun fact - like three of her fellow jurors, she ranked Belgium in 1st place. 

Creasey is a well-known an Australian standup comedian, actor and television presenter and is a regular at comedy festivals across Australia and even internationally. He has appeared in the Australian soap opera ‘Neighbours’ and even hosted the dating game show ‘Take Me Out’. His witty comedic personality has been labelled as Australia’s ‘Acid Tongue Prince’. 

One of the most memorable moments of the pair commentating came in the 2018 Contest, when after a stage invader invaded the stage during SuRie’s performance, Joel called the stage invader a “cockhead”. The comment even drew praise from author J.K Rowling, who said “Apparently the Australian commentator called SuRie’s stage invader ‘some absolute cockhead’ and I don’t want to hear another word about Australia being in Eurovision ever again.”

Warhust and Creasey had the honour in hosting Australia’s first Eurovision national final, ‘Eurovision: Australia Decides 2019’. In an epic production where Kate Miller-Heidke was crowned the champion to represent Australia at Tel Aviv. 

Some of the most memorable moments from the pair at the Australian national finals have been the costumes that both Myf and Joel have worn during the show. Who could forget when Joel came out in Dami Im’s Sound of Silence dress during the 2019 show, or the bling covered Australian Olympic team style tracksuits both hosts wore at the beginning of the 2020 show!

Myf and Joel got to host Australia Decides three times in total before the SBS chose to discontinue the show and choose the Australian Eurovision representative internally from then on.

After the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, both Myf and Joel decided to step down from the roles of SBS commentators. In a statement they said:

"It’s been a huge honour to host the Eurovision Song Contest for SBS, but the time has come to hang up our glitter microphones. We have absolutely adored watching our Australian artists compete on the world stage and it’s been a privilege to bring that experience to our dedicated Australian Eurovision fans.

"We are very grateful to SBS and Blink TV and both acknowledge that one of the best things to come out of all of this is our beautiful friendship. We certainly aim to work together in some capacity again soon. 

We wish SBS and the new hosts all the very best with future broadcasts, and we look forward to getting up super early next year to watch it with the rest of Australia from the couch in our pyjamas.”

2025

Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong

In April 2025, SBS announced that the commentary team for that year at Eurovision would be none other than Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong. This caused a huge stir across all media and made the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald.

During the process of being selected, Tony, in earlier interviews, mentioned a "chemistry test" that the pair did before being selected.

"[SBS said] we're gonna put them together and we'll see what kind of sparks fly," Courtney explained.

"They knew they'd be sparks, but they wanted to make sure that they were the right Eurovision coloured ones. And I think they are. We're having a lot of fun."

"I mean, like a day like this, it's a pretty solid day, but that's when you really stress test, like, what a relationship is going to be like on screen," Tony added.

Basel 2025 was a great success for Tony and Courtney as commentators, however we found out in early 2026, that due to scheduling commitments for the busy Tony Armstrong, he would not be travelling to Vienna.

SBS released a statement saying:

"Last year's co-host, Tony Armstrong is no longer able to join this year's event due to a scheduling clash with other projects. SBS thanks Tony for the energy, humour and heart he brought to the 2025 coverage and looks forward to seeing his signature sparkle return to the network in the coming months."

2026

Courtney Act and Danny Estrin

It was announced much to the delight of Eurovision fans, that Courtney Act would stay on for 2026 Eurovision and be joined by Danny Estrin, the charismatic front man of prog-rock band Voyager, who represented Australia at Eurovision in 2023 with Promise. Danny is a self-professed die-hard Eurovision fan, having grown up watching Eurovision as a child in Germany. It almost seems as though Danny was BORN for this role!

Danny shared his excitement on this announcement with a post on his socials.

"2026, baby I'm back! Not as a fan, not as a performer, but as a special guest commentator along side the fabulous Courtney Act. I'll be bringing you all the amazing action from Eurovision in Vienna for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision nation this is going to be epic!!"

Danny says further: “From watching Eurovision as a child, hosting Eurovision parties at uni, attending it as a fan, to being a performer with Voyager in 2023 was already a phenomenal journey. To be a special guest this year with the formidably fabulous Courtney Act is an honour and dream come true! I can’t wait to immerse myself in the Eurovision nation once more for Vienna 2026!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSoy_mJMlMY

Danny warmed up for his commentary stint by joining Courtney to host the Australian Embassy Eurovision Celebration in Vienna, which featured a performance by our 2026 entrant Delta Goodrem.

You can catch Danny co-hosting with Courtney Act on SBS' coverage of this year's Eurovision contest from Vienna, Australia throughout the week. The schedule is:

Live Early Morning Broadcasts (AEST)

• Semi-Final 1: Wednesday, 13 May at 5am

• Semi-Final 2 (with Australia): Friday, 15 May at 5am

• Grand Final: Sunday, 17 May at 5am

  
  

Prime-Time Repeats (SBS Main Channel & On Demand)

• Semi-Final 1: Friday, 15 May at 7:30pm

• Semi-Final 2: Saturday, 16 May at 7:30pm

• Grand Final: Sunday, 17 May at 7:30pm

Reference List:

Carniel, J 2018, Understanding the Eurovision Song Contest in Multicultural Australia, Palgrave Pivot, Cham

Coustas, M 2003, Effie’s guide to being up yourself, Hodder Headline Australia, Sydney

Mangan, D 2004, This is Sweden Calling, Random House Australia, Milsons Point

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