2 Juries - one UK-based and one International, will comment on and rate the songs of ESC 2016 as they are chosen. The idea is that the songs will be voted on first impressions, as most TV viewers will do in May. The main difference of course is that in May they will be subject to the same production standards and opportunities, something that differs at National Selection stage. Individual Jury scores, plus an overall rating wil, be published. Here are the 32 Jury members who are critiquing the songs of 2016:

INTERNATIONAL JURY

01

02

03

04

AMAR

HODZIC

BENEDEK

 FARKAS

CHRISTOS

 ZAFEIRIDIS

DARIA

SYRKOVA

USA

Romania

Greece

Russia

Hello  Europe and Hello World! I'm Amar and I live in the  United States  , no worries though, I'm originally from  Bosnia  so I truly have a feel for what Eurovision is all about! I'm 20 years old but 11 years old in the Eurovision community; 2005 was the year that I was first introduced to this song contest and I was immediately captivated. Ever since that first experience, I've been very musically inclined and have developed a true feel for judging music and judging how audiences will respond to certain songs and performances (even though I'm not the slightest bit talented in producing music). I am very open minded with music, artists, and performances and will take every genre into consideration equally and fairly. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what this year brings and I hope my critiques will be entertaining and accurate on the scoreboard in May!

I’m married with a 5 year old child and live with my family in the city called Targu Mures. As for my professional career I’m acting, I have finished the University of Theatre and TV in Cluj Napoca , Romania and right now I’m learning at the University of Art in Targu Mures, PhD in acting. I performed from 2003 till now in more then 70 plays, musicals in theatres (Hungarian National Theater Cluj Napoca, National Theater Targu Mures, Romanian National Theater Cluj Napoca, Tomcsa   Sandor   Theater   etc .).I also work sometime as model and I’m doing TV, Radio works too. I’m a huge Eurovision fan from 1999 so I’m new guy but I love it, enjoy it and watching it a lot. My point of view is always to be objective and fair. I’m always watching the song and contender in a package without watching from which country is the person and song. I would love to see  Europe does the same. Unfortunately not till now. I hope it will change.

My name is Christos Zafeiridis and I am an accredited correspondent for the last 12 years in every Eurovision Song Contest held.

In the past years I had the honor and responsibility to collaborate with French TV for ESC. Each time my application was approved as before.

In 2014 I had the honour of being a member of the international jury at “Melodifestivalen 2014” in Sweden .

It all started in 2000 when Alsou was a popular singer in Russia and she decided to go to Eurovision. I didn't watch the show as it was broadcasted very late in Russia and I was a 9-year-old girl, but next morning I was disappointed (as everyone in Russia ), that Alsou didn't win. 2002 was the first properly "watched" Eurovision in my life, but I didn't have Internet at home until 2007 so I couldn’t follow the contest and I watched only Final shows and most of the Semis. 2008 was the first one when I decided to listen to some songs before the contest (but still Turkey took me by surprise and literally caught my breath away) and 2009 was the first one when I dedicated most of my time to the contest. And also first visited - but just as a viewer (should we count it in because it was in my home city?). Since then I added Baku , Malta and Vienna to the list of the visited Eurovision events. Eurovision is just a part of my musical Universe, but I can't imagine my life without it. Now I'm not only interested in "who wins" or "who is the best", but also in analyzing (let's use this word) of what is going on and how the contest is changing, etc. Moreover, Eurovision is a good way to explore European music, this is why I am still here, even I don't like pop music that much as most of the Eurovision fans do (but it's my secret). So let's see what 2016 season will show! 

05

06

07

08

DOUWE

REVELER

ELENA

LUNDQVIST

FREDERICO

BRAGA DE MATOS

JOSÉ

MORA

Netherlands

Finland

Portugal

Mexico

y love of the Eurovision Song Contest spans more than 30 years and started when I discovered a book that my Mom used to note all of the points allocated on Eurovision night. My earliest ESC memory is watching the 1978 show and thinking how fantastic it was. Since then I have had the great fortune of being able to attend several national finals as well as 10 actual Eurovisions - 1989, 2004, 2008 - 2015 (with front row seats in Moscow - an absolute highpoint and unforgettable experience!!) In 2014 in Copenhagen  I was Delegation Host for Azerbaijan which gave me the opportunity to witness things from a very different perspective and was fascinating.  Stockholm is just around the corner and although the contest has grown and undergone many changes it is still as much fun as it always was.

My name is Elena, and I'm am 27 years old multi-geek.

I'm born into a household where the eurovision song contest is a more celebrated holiday than Christmas, so I haven't had much of a chance to not be a fan of ESC . My first esc-memory is probably from early 90's when I was looping the recording of Yugoslavia's entrance from -91, "Brazil", driving people, mainly my mother, crazy. I tend to like the entries that stand out one way or the other and I believe a good show always reels in points. My favourite entries are Rock n' Roll Kids, The Voice and Hard Rock Hallelujah (of course haha!)

Eurovision was initially a family event; we watched the show enjoyed it together. In 1981 I got my first Eurovision LP and that year has become quite important for me since it’s when I think I became ‘officially’ a fan. After that, I remember cassette recording both the Festival da Canção and the Eurovision Song Contest. A few years later I started recording them on VHS and the passion became truly cemented.  I love Eurovision because it is great music, it is international and cosmopolitan. And it is also great fun. Eurovision also means meeting lots of wonderful people from across Europe and the world, some of whom I am proud to call friends.

I've been watching the contest since 2005, but I'm a collector of the nicest songs since 50's. I have had the pleasure to attend live shows of my 2 favourite Eurovision superstars: Patricia Kaas and Anna Vissi. Someday I hope I can attend the other of my favourite divas: Charlotte Perrelli. Here in  Mexico we can see the show live due to the Television Española (TVE) signal and that is the big event I cannot miss ever. Greetings from Guadalajara !

09

10

11

12

MARK

LAMB

MELISSA

BAYLY

OCTAVIO

RAMIREZ SANTANA

PAUL

CAMACHO

Ireland

Australia

Italy

Spain

Brought up in Ireland, it has been lovely to see my home country win so often, however as there is little chance of that happening again I have to be contented with sobbing into my cocktail while watching the likes of Dustin the Turkey and Jedward embarrass an entire country. Only Joking! I love the contest and have been glued to it for over 40 years. Roll on Stockhol 2016! 

I’m an Australian living in Dubai since 2005. I’ve been a fan of the ESC since 2002, when a documentary on Estonia’s preparations for hosting the contest that year piqued my interest, then after hearing Cyprus’ One give it their all with “Gimme” I was totally hooked. I finally bit the bullet and attended my first ESC in 2010, and the level of hospitality and warmth that I felt from the Norwegians is something I’ll never forget. I’ve been hooked ever since, having attended 2011 and 2012 as an accredited fan, and being blessed with the opportunity in 2013 as a member of the San Marino delegation.  My ultimate dream was of course fulfilled in 2014, as San Marino qualified for the final! My absolute favorite entries would be Kuula, Pokusaj, Dschingis Khan and my favourite winner would have to be Johnny Logan’s Hold Me Now.

Born in Gran Canaria, I live in Rome , and the first Eurovision I remember is the 1977 edition. I remember I watched the contest together with my family with lot of excitement and interest. I’ve to admit I’m a huge Eurovision Fan not necessarily a fan of a specific country and each year I bet on the country with the song that I like best, and this is no guarantee of success. I've made many great friends through ESC travels and finally got to my first contest in 2008 in  Belgrade and more recently made it to Vienna . My desire is to see win Spain , Portugal , Italy and Iceland .

Born in  France of an Irish mother and a Spanish father, I was probably predestined to like everything 'European' and so it went. The first Eurovision I remember is the 1990 edition in  Zagreb  and particularly remember the French song from Joelle Ursull 'White and black blues' and I since then did not miss any Eurovision song contests. Every year I cannot wait to discover each song selected by every country entering the competition. So best of luck to everyone again this year.

13

14

15

16

PIA

LUNDQVIST

ROBERTO

GIORGI

ROY

VAN DER MERWE

SAMANTHA

ROSS

Finland

Italy

South Africa

USA

I'm 50 years young and have been a Eurovision fan since 1964 when  Italy won. (My mother told me, that I had said about the Italian entry: That's the winner! I don't remember it myself ....) Well at work they have give me vacation on the "Eurovision week" cause they are tired listening to me & my Eurovision talk around the clock.

I'm from Italy and I'm a huge Eurovision fan. I was in Düsseldorf in 2011 for our comeback and it was amazing to meet my friends all over   Europe . The unexpected second place in Germany was, for me, even better than a real victory. I grew up with the songs of Sandie Shaw, Séverine, Vicky Leandros.  ESC  1977 was the first one I ever watched on television. It was amazing following our last partecipants, the guys from Il Volo, in their mega-successful Summer Tour in Italy . Apart from our Euro-classic "Grande amore", my faves are The Common Linnets and Patricia Kaas. ESC  is an exciting, deep and involving experience.

As a child I grew up without Eurovision as  South Africa did not get TV until 1976 and of course it was not broadcast here. In the 70's as a child I did hear some euro songs, usually the winners and those in English that made our charts, like CONGRATULATIONS, PUPPET ON A STRING, WATERLOO, COME WHAT  MAY  , BEG STEAL OR BORROW, SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME etc. Vicky Leandros was very popular here and toured here, so COME WHAT  MAY went to number one.  South Africa was also after  SWEDEN the second country to know of ABBA and in fact they had 4 number one hits here prior to winning EUROVISION with  WATERLOO

I was invited to attend EUROVISION in  MUNICH 1983 (!) - My first time at EUROVISION in the audience. Since 1993 I have never missed a contest and since Dublin 1995, I’ve had P accreditation, so attending the run-up to EUROVISION. My taste is quite different from most but that is what makes it so special - something for everyone! I am also very active in the music business here, getting local singers to cover EURO songs (almost 200 have now been covered directly because of me). 

Living in the United States , I didn't have the luxury of growing up with Eurovision, as it's not shown on any channel here (yet!). However, when I started attending university I learned more and more about the ESC and quickly became an addict. In 2009, I started my own blog (mostly to keep myself from talking my family's ears off about it) and I eventually became a contributing editor at ESC Insight (www.escinsight.com), where I'm our lead interviewer (and spend time keeping Terry Vision in check!). I have also worked with the web team for JESC in Malta and Bulgaria .  I'll be making my sixth trip to Eurovision in 2016, and I couldn't be more excited! My favourite ESC entries are "Madness of Love", "Na Inat", "Deli", "Coming Home" (both Firelight's and Sjonni's Friends!), "Same Heart", "Pokusaj", "Tonight Again" and I've got a soft spot in my heart for "Eläköön elämä". See you all in Stockholm . 

UNITED KINGDOM JURY

01

02

03

04

ANDREW

CROSS

ANDREW

GUY

DANIEL

TEW

DANNY

LYNCH

Stevenage

Caernarfon

Cardiff

Glasgow

I've always loved other languages and have been watching the contest since as far back as I remember but it was ' Amsterdam ' and 'Fantasiaa' in the early 80's that really got me hooked. With no internet/satellite TV it was a case of writing to the national TV stations to get the singles and relying on friends and family to send video tapes of the national finals. As for the contest itself, it was the one night the whole of  Europe was 'together' in spirit. I used to have synchronised video recording in 3 different parts of the  UK just in case of power failure!  Finally got to my first contest in 1996 in  Oslo and more recently made it to Düsseldorf and Baku .

I’m a fluent Welsh speaking person who’s always enjoyed watching and following Eurovision, I’ve never missed a show since 1982 when i was only 9 years old and I remember recording each show on VHS since 1986. I finally got to go to a real live Eurovision in 2004 in Istanbul and then went to Athens in 2006, I also went to Stockholm to the Melodifestivalen final in 2008. I continue to watch every year and like watching the most other countries pre-selection shows in the new year, especially Norway and Sweden, I haven’t been to a real live show in the last recent years, but hopefully one day I will go again. Favourite Eurovision song ever was Netherlands 1984

My earliest Eurovision memory is watching the 1991 contest as a 5-year-old with my mother and from then on always supporting the Swiss entry as my father lived in Geneva during the 1990s. 

I suppose I became a "superfan" during the mid to late 90s at a time when the UK sent consistently good songs and there were hits on the charts. 

Since the dawn of the Internet age, my Eurovision fandom has only grown and become a bigger part of my life. I have made so many good friends from around Europe and beyond as a result of the Eurovision Song Contest and my life would be a lot more boring had I not become hooked on all things Eurovision!

I have been a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest for as long as I can remember. My first memory of Eurovision is Bobbysocks winning in 1985 when I was 5 years old, but I can’t remember much more than their sparkly pink outfits! In 1992, my parents bought a new  VCR  and I recorded my first Eurovision and from then onwards, my obsession grew and grew! The first Eurovision event I attended was Melodifestivalen in 2006, and I popped my Eurovision cherry in Belgrade in 2008, and apart from missing 2009 due to work commitments, I have been every year since. At Eurovision I work for one of the fan sites - interviewing artists, blogging rehearsals, dishing all the gossip and of course a little bit of partying here and there – Eurovision fortnight is my Christmas! My favourite Eurovision song ever is 'Quand je te rêve' by Céline Carzo ( Luxembourg  1990) and my favourite   UK  entry is 'Where Are You by Imaani from 1998. I am looking forward for 2016 to begin and can't wait to hear the songs that will compete for the trophy in Stockholm in May!

05

06

07

08

DAVID

BRIDGMAN

DAVID

ELDER

DEAN

ASKER

EDDIE

DE SOUZA

London

Edinburgh

Stratford-on-Avon

London

My love affair with  Europe ’s finest song festival began with a chance sighting of Brotherhood of Man in 1976. Maybe the flares swayed me. 1979 was the first full contest I watched and I swore that night that the next time the contest was in  Israel , I'd be there. OK it took twenty years but I made it! It was also the last one I went to.

My  ESC  card was marked from a very young age. As a 5 year old I could be found lip-synching to Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue when it was played on the juke-box in my parents’ café. I remember coming downstairs for a drink of water while the 72 voting was on, and I remember sending Cilla a postcard asking Cliff to sing “Come Back Billie-Joe” in 73. He didn’t. I watched the full show in earnest in 74 and haven’t looked back since. In 84 and 85 I was in the Scottish  SFE  juries and then in 86 I joined Mr Speirs at BBC TV Centre in  London to be on the  UK jury. We gave  Germany 12 points, and being half-German, I was delighted! I’ve been accredited as a journalist at every contest since Zagreb in 90, initially writing for fan publications, but latterly covering the event for one of  Scotland ’s leading newspapers. Jerusalem ,  Riga , Kyiv and  Moscow were the best experiences;  Copenhagen 01 – hands-down – was the worst! My all time fave entry is Bem Bom by Doce from 82, and I can often be found raising my hands, clapping and hey-ing at the appropriate juncture. In real life I’m an HR Manager, have a charming husband and two gorgeous pussies called Bunty and Baxter!

My first memory of Eurovision was when, at the age of 6, I fell asleep before I knew if Rock Bottom has won the 1977 Contest.  Of course it didn’t and I was very disappointed about the  UK ’s second place the next day.  My passion was truly cemented in the 1980s, and when Bobbysocks won. I was delighted.  The first time I saw the Contest live was in 1995, and I’ve been to 18 contests in total. Highlights include the UK win in 1997, and everything about 2003, 2007 and 2010.  My favourite Eurovision entry is Det’ Lige’ Det ( Denmark 1984), although ‘Is It True’ (Iceland 2009) runs a close second. 

My first Eurovision memory was aged 4 seeing Bucks Fizz win and from that moment onwards I was hooked. I've been to national finals in the UK  ,  Norway  ,  Denmark  and of course, Melodifestivalen in  Sweden . 2013 was my first live   ESC experience which was amazing – can’t wait to go again. As a keen composer, I have written a few songs and am just waiting for my big Eurovision break. My favourite Eurovision entries are Amen ( Israel 1995), Je n'ai que mon âme (France 2001) and Je ne sais quoi (Iceland 2010).

09

10

11

12

GARY

SPEIRS

JOE

SANSOM

MARK

McCANNEY

MARTIN

PALMER

Brighton

Coventry

London

Bristol

I’m a long-term fan, proven by it being Abba's win in  Brighton that hooked me in. A proud Welshman from Cardiff , I now actually live in Brighton and held a special birthday party at the (Abba) Dome in 2013 (on the 39^th anniversary of Abba winning Melodifestval!). I have made many great friends through Eurovision travels and this makes every gathering a very special time. I have had some great fun with the contest; with Stockholm 2016 looking to be the 27th Contest travelled to (I told you I was old!) I was also honoured to be a member of the UK Jury for Eurovision 86 in Bergen (with David Elder). I love the fact that Eurovision has taken me to places I may never otherwise have visited, like Riga , Tallinn , Kyiv, Belgrade , Baku , Istanbul and Moscow ! Oh, and not forgetting little Millstreet… My amazing Moscow front-seat 3 seconds of TV-fame certainly outed my ESC passion to lots of people who didn’t already know… Best entries... BAILAR PEGADOS, TORNERO, KUULA and GRANDE AMORE among many others. Here’s hoping the 61st Contest in 2016 wows us all and that we get a winner that we are all happy with!

My earliest Eurovision memory was watching with my parents in '84 and being dumbfounded as a 6-yr old as to how Belle and The Devotions didn't win. I'd like to say that I would now know better, but many would disagree as my favourites vary from screechy Balkan ballads to Scandi schlager.

I've been at the Contest 10 times with my first being Riga in 2003 and I often travel to national finals in Sweden and Iceland , amongst others. 

I've been a fan of Eurovision all my life, watched my first contest in 1993 and attended my first contest as a very excited 16 year old boy. Since then I've attended 7 more contests and look forward to it each year along with the many dear friends I have made as a result of this wacky but much loved contest. Long may it continue! 

"Yep, it's me from the Maltese 'selfie backdrop' in Copenhagen !  What do you mean, you didn't see it?  I was in the far left hand corner at the top...tsk!

You are more likely to recognise me if you follow Eurovision blogs - "Let Me Be The One - Eurovision Through The Ages" (http://eurovisionthroughtheages.blogspot.co.uk/) and "Eurovision Beauty" (http://eurovisionbeauty.tumblr.com/) are my efforts at promoting my thoughts and preferences about this Contest that we all love!  I love reviewing all Eurovision entries, whether internally selected, through a National Final or at the ESC itself - I'm now getting into the swing of doing so in an 'official capacity', having been on the OGAE SCC UK jury for two years now.

My Eurovision history?  First ESC remembered - 1975, The Shadows coming second (my blog name make sense now?).  Favourite ESC - 2013, so many great entries and the inspiration for starting my Eurovision writing.  Favourite entries - L'oiseau et l'enfant (vocals) and Fairytale (staging).  Special mention - Ray Caruana with 'Scarlet Song', 2nd in 1994 Maltese NF - it would have beaten "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" hands down in Dublin, easy!"

13

14

15

16

MATT

MEYER

NICO

PITTORTOU

SALLY- ANN

FAWCETT

TRISTAN

WHITE

Essex

London

London

London

Eurovision began for me with the contest in 1990 when I was 13 and it was the 'them and us' aspect that appealed to me. I became a 'proper' fan of the contest in 1993 mainly due to 'Our Sonia' singing, but I very quickly appreciated (and enjoyed) hearing so many languages. As I know (British) Sign Language, I hope to see this featured a bit more in the future.

Confession time - I have only been to one contest itself, that being the one held in 2000 in Sweeeeden and do hope to go again one day; it was great to experience the atmosphere and meet up with some of my overseas friends.

My favourite all-times are very hard to pinpoint but I would say "I evighet" from Norway 1996 is right near the top and as for the UK favourite... it's Pearl and Teddy from '59! Whatever my comments are about the songs, I wish them all the best of luck as it's not their fault I might not like a song but it'll be a proud moment for them to represent their country. 

I've been a Eurovision lover since the age of four. I have been attending the contest itself since 2004 in  Istanbul and since then have also become very greatly interested in the various national finals, which in turn lead me to create the Second Cherry Song Contest along with two friends of mine, which has become an annual event and is going from strength to strength.

Hi! I'm Sally-Ann Fawcett, from  London via Scarborough  , and I had the privilege of co-founding the very first Eurovision Song Contest fan club in the   UK  in 1987. We held a small gathering in Scarborough  , and year by year saw a huge increase in number of members - all of whom had suffered, like me "The only  ESC fan in the world" syndrome. I co-hosted the Network Song Contest with David Elder on a number of occasions, and credit the fan club with quite literally changing my life, introducing me to people who have become my closest friends.

I'm also a beauty pageant judge and author of "Misdemeanours - Beauty Queen Scandals" - my other big passion.

I'm delighted to be part of the 2016 jury and it may be my last appearance, because if the  UK  wins I will die with joy (and shock!) on the spot!

I have been following the Eurovision Song Contest since 1979, when I was just 8 years old, but it was the 1980 song contest, and TELEX in particular, that made a lasting impression on me, and since then the contest has become somewhat of an obsession. I lived in Spain until 1989, when I came to London to go to University, where my Eurovision parties became legendary: I would hold a crazy drinking game where I would make fifty litres of sangría and each person represented a different country and would have to be forced to drink cups of sangría during their three-minute song, and then drink every time "their" country got points. I held these parties until about 2005 when I realised that carpets were actually quite nice things to keep clean. I watch as many of the national finals as possible and am quite proud (and simultaneously ashamed) at the fact that I managed to watch almost all 41 Azerbaijani shows in 2011, so by the time I finally got to see Ell & Nikki lift the trophy live in Düsseldorf I felt almost as though they were part of the family. Since then I have attended every Eurovision except Baku .