BBC to celebrate 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision win

The BBC have announced a series of celebrations marking 50 years of ABBA‘s triumph at the Eurovision Song Contest.

READ MORE: Björn Ulvaeus on one year of ABBA Voyage: ‘It’s blown my mind!’

The band famously won the competition in 1974 for their performance of ‘Waterloo’, which was held in Brighton.

Next month, the BBC will mark the occasion by hosting a night of ABBA specials including When Abba Came to Britain and More ABBA at the BBC.

BBC Radio 2 will also share new programmes Eras: ABBA and Sophie Ellis-Bextor: ABBA, My Supergroup.

Discussing the celebrations, Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor of BBC Pop Music TV, said: “When Abba Came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.”

Mark Robinson, of film producer Wise Owl Films added: “There can be fewer bands, if any, who have straddled generations of British music fans in a more impressive way than ABBA. Their original fans might now be in their fifties and sixties, but their children, and even their grandchildren, will be just as familiar with their biggest hits thanks to the likes of Mamma Mia! and Voyage.

“This film shows the enduring and often emotional impact that ABBA have left on British fans and musicians across the decades, but we will also chart the key role that Britain played in the band’s history – from the music of groups like The Beatles to playing host to defining moments in their career.”

ABBA’s avatar live show ABBA: Voyage continues to run at the bespoke ABBA Arena in east London following its launch in mid-2022. Reviewing the show’s premiere, Rolling Stone UK said: “What the producers, and the band themselves, have done with the show is groundbreaking, and will likely transform live music (though whether that’s for better or worse is still up for debate). Last night, though – and for the rest of ABBA’s residency – we can, once again, just be thankful for the music.”

Reflecting on the first year of the show, Björn Ulvaeus told us: “It’s been a success beyond everyone’s expectations and it’s had such impact too, because it’s such a technological milestone. Everybody says that the technology could change live music and I guess it certainly has done something to the image of ABBA. I think we’re in the front of trying to do new daring things and I think that’s good.”

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö in ABBA’s home country of Sweden. The UK will be represented by Olly Alexander with his single ‘Dizzy’, while Israel recently shared an edited version of its entry song for this year’s contest after controversy over its lyrics.