Ukraine: Verka Serduchka receives wildcard to national final

After a day of castings, in Kyiv to find a singer for Eurovision 2011, NTU have decided that Verka Serduchka, who represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2007 will receive a wildcard to go directly to the final of their national selection for Eurovision 2011. The jury for the castings came to a mutual decision that drag singer Verka did not need to show his professionalism in the selection’s next rounds, and so decided to give a wildcard to the final stage of the contest, which will take place on 27th February. A total of 20 songs will compete in the final round, now only 19 spots are left.

Another change in the proceedings is that NTU plan to skip the quarterfinal stage of the selection. Their original plan was to announce 50 qualifiers from the castings, who would compete in two quarterfinals, then ten semi-finals and finally a final in February. Now 30 qualifiers from the castings will be announced and the live stage of the preselection will start at with multiple semi-finals.

The 30 qualifiers from the castings will be announced on Saturday evening. After this ten semi-finals will take place between October and December, with one candidate eliminated in every show.

jury

Members of the jury, with the head (Walid Arfush) in the centre.