BBC opts for Euro Dance Contest

The BBC announced today that it is to host the first Eurovision Dance Contest.

Like the Eurovision Song Contest, the show will be live, with a scoreboard and foreign hosts. The first event will bring together 11 broadcasters in addition to the BBC, who will be hosting the production for the first two years.

A co-production between Splash Media and Sunset + Vine, the show has been put together in association with the International DanceSport Federation and the European Broadcasting Union.

Peter Fincham, controller of BBC One, said: "The Eurovision Song Contest has been a remarkable, long standing success on BBC One. Eurovision Dance Contest is its natural partner. I'm looking forward to an evening full of stars and sequins, and glitz and glamour – a great night of family entertainment on BBC One."

Couples from 13 countries across Europe will perform two dances – one a choice of traditional Latin or Ballroom, the other one a freestyle dance reflecting their National culture.

Countries taking part include Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine and the UK.

Viewers will be asked to vote on the overall performance: dancing, choreography, costume and choice of music. There will be an expert commentator who will describe performance and artistic content.

Presented by Graham Norton, the two-hour special will be shown later in the year on BBC One as a Saturday night event.