Bulgaria returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 with Poli Genova
EBU / Andres Putting
Popular Bulgarian singer Poli Genova has been named as one of the interval acts for the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest which takes place in Malta on Sunday 20th November. Poli is no stranger to the competition having presented the show last year live from the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.
Poli, who achieved Bulgaria's best ever placing in the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year with If Love Was A Crime, will perform alongside Destiny who won the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest for Malta with Not My Soul. Destiny will not only reprise her winning song but will also perform her brand new single La Di Da at the event. The 2016 edition of the contest will also feature the competition's first ever panel of expert judges.
Expert panel in 2016
This year, each singer will be judged by one professional music industry jury and one youth jury made up of children from every participating country. These will combine 50/50 to form that country’s vote. Then, in a format change brand new for 2016, the event will also see votes from three expert judges making up the rest of the overall score (with each judge counting for the equivalent of one additional country).
The first ever expert judges panel will comprise of Mads Grimstad of Universal Music, and expert show producer, Christer Bjorkman, the man behind the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen. Christer was the show producer for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm and represented Sweden in the competition in 1992. One additional spot for on the panel is yet to be announced.
Each expert judge or jury member score every act, either giving the prized 12 points, 10 points, or 8-1. Their votes will be added together, creating the participant's final score.
Hosting this year’s contest will be Ben Camille, who also presented the Maltese national final for Eurovision 2016, and Valerie Vella who hosted that competition in 2002 and presented Malta’s votes in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. Taryn Mamo Cefai will be the host of the Opening Ceremony.
This year the official Junior Eurovision social channels will also be hosting unique posts that allow the public to have their say on who they thought was their favourite performer.
