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Petra Mede will host the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time on Saturday in Malmo, Sweden, this time accompanied by superstar Malin Åkerman.
Newcomer Malin, who was born in Stockholm but grew up near Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, is famous for numerous Hollywood films; This is the first time she has presented Eurovision.
Meanwhile, Petra previously hosted the song contest when it was in Malmo in 2013 and also when it took place in Stockholm in 2016, alongside Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw.
From being a backup singer for Celine Dion to winning awards for her comedy, the Swedish star has had a brilliant career so far.
Here, MailOnline brings together everything you need to know about the Eurovision presenter ahead of Saturday’s long-awaited final.
Petra Mede will host the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time on Saturday in Malmo, Sweden.
This Saturday, Petra (LEFT) will join superstar Malin Åkerman (RIGHT) as her co-host.
Who is Eurovision presenter Petra Mede?
Petra Mede is a Swedish comedian, actress, dancer and television presenter; Outside the country she is best known for the two previous times she presented Eurovision in 2013 and 2016.
This 54-year-old woman was born in Stockholm to parents Ulla Elisabet and Klas Håkan Mede, but grew up in Partille, a municipality near Gothenburg.
She has a younger sister named Anne Mede Ageling and the presenter studied Philosophy and French Language at university.
Petra was also a dancer at a ballet academy, but unfortunately this part of her career was cut short after suffering a back injury at the age of 20, so she tried her luck in comedy.
After a series of appearances on Swedish television, including performances and comedy shows, she was named Sweden’s best comedian in 2009.
What links does Petra Mede have with Celine Dion?
Petra worked impressively as Celine Dion’s backup singer for a time, after her dancing career failed and while she explored comedy.
Many music fans don’t know that years before topping the charts with her stunning ballad Titanic, Celine took the Eurovision stage.
Petra is a Swedish comedian, actress, dancer and television presenter; outside the country, she is best known for the two previous times she presented Eurovision in 2013 and 2016 (pictured above in the Eurovision 2024 semi-final).
Many music fans don’t know that years before topping the charts with her stunning ballad Titanic, Celine took the Eurovision stage (pictured representing Sweden in 1988) and was narrowly crowned the winner, by just one point.
Petra (RIGHT) worked impressively as Celine’s backup singer for a short time, after her dancing career failed and while she explored comedy (pictured in this year’s semi-final)
The Canadian-born star represented Switzerland in 1988 with the song Ne Partez Pas San Moi, and her victory was one of the most exciting in the contest’s history.
Celine beat Britain’s Scott Fitzgerald by just one point and was crowned the winner of the contest, after receiving 12 points from Portugal and six points from Yugoslavia.
The victory boosted Celine’s international career and she became one of the most successful musicians of all time.
When has Petra Mede presented Eurovision before?
Petra’s rise to global fame came when she was selected to host Eurovision for the first time in May 2013.
She took on the job as solo presenter and that year Emmelie de Forest took home the trophy for Denmark with the song Only Teardrops.
Then in 2015, he teamed up with Graham Norton to present Eurovision Greatest Hits, which was filmed in London and later broadcast in 27 different countries.
Her second performance as a Song Festival presenter came in 2016, when she took the stage in Stockholm alongside Swedish Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw.
In the contest, Ukrainian Jamala took the trophy with her song 1944, giving Ukraine its second victory since 2004.
Petra Mede’s global rise to fame came when she was selected to host Eurovision for the first time in May 2013 (pictured above).
Her second appearance as a Song Festival presenter came in 2016, when she took to the stage in Stockholm alongside Swedish Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw (pictured above).
What is the Eurovision 2016 ‘straitjacket’ controversy?
However, Petra found herself in the middle of controversy after her second time hosting the music competition.
She was accused of fueling the stigma surrounding mental illness when she made an ill-received joke about a straitjacket.
During the live broadcast, Petra appeared in a light-hearted segment where some models showed off some Eurovision brand products and memorabilia.
It started off showing items like a typical hat, but the comedy portion quickly took a turn when it revealed a model wearing a Eurovision-branded straitjacket.
“And if you’re a really crazy fan, I highly recommend the Eurovision straitjacket,” Petra said.
And he adds: “You know what they say: the new black is crazy.”
The prank was not well received by viewers or mental health charities, with some saying it was inappropriate and could have had harmful consequences.
After the show in 2016, Kate Nightingale, head of communications for Time to Change, a campaign partly funded by the government and run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, said The Guardian:
“It is disappointing that mental health problems, which affect one in four of us in serious and sometimes devastating ways, are being used as part of a Eurovision stunt.
Petra found herself in the middle of controversy after her second participation as host of the musical contest
She was accused of fueling the stigma surrounding mental illness when she made an ill-received joke about a straitjacket.
In a press release, Petra said: ‘Imagine having the opportunity to host Eurovision once again! It’s such an incredible honor.’
From being a backup singer for Celine Dion to winning awards for her comedy, the Swedish star has had a brilliant career so far (pictured performing with Charlotte Perrelli during this year’s semi-final)
‘Trivializing mental health issues and reinforcing outdated stereotypes about people in straitjackets has detrimental consequences as it makes it harder for people to seek help and support.
“A lot of people watch the Eurovision Song Contest and it would be great to see it used as a platform to raise awareness about mental health, not to fuel stigma.”
At the time of broadcast, a bewildered fan took to X to ask: “Why is there a man wearing a straitjacket and why is this woman saying ‘crazy is the new black’ #Eurovision?”
Another added: ‘Eurovision straightjacket simply. it is not. fun??? #Eurovision.’
What has Petra said about hosting Eurovision this year?
Speaking about hosting the show this year alongside Malin Åkerman, Petra said in a press release:
‘Imagine having the opportunity to host Eurovision once again! It’s such an incredible honor.
‘After presenting it first alone and then together with the lovely Måns Zelmerlöw at my side, I am now really looking forward to working with Malin.
‘We haven’t known each other before, but we’ve already met a couple of times and I’m already completely convinced. It will be a pleasure to work with her!’
Malin Åkerman, gushing about her co-host, added: “I can’t really describe my feelings about it.
‘I’m very excited and a little nervous, but in a positive way.
“I have always loved Eurovision and being part of this fantastic show with Petra is a dream come true. Plus, Petra is one of the funniest women I have ever met.”
The Eurovision Song Contest final airs on Saturday at 8pm on BBC One.
