In a surprise to hopefully no-one, organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have confirmed that this year’s show will not look like business as usual.

Last year, bosses laid out four potential scenarios for how the 2021 event could play out; and today, they’ve posted an update that ultimately rules out one of them.

As expected, it’s Scenario A – which would have seen the contest taking place like it would have done in any other year; i.e. big crowds, no social distancing, everything looking pre-COVID.

“The Eurovision Song Contest will definitely make its welcome return this May despite the pandemic but, in the prevailing circumstances, it is regrettably impossible to hold the event in the way we are used to,” said Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor.

“We very much hope to be able to gather in Rotterdam in May and will do all we can in the coming weeks to achieve this.”

This leaves three scenarios in play, and producers are now gunning for Scenario B. This will involve a socially distanced live audience, an adapted set of accompanying events, and a reduced-capacity press room.

All contestants will be invited to perform live, but will be able to pre-record a back-up performance if, for whatever reason, that can’t happen.

If that fails, Scenario C will involve none of the participants travelling to Rotterdam; instead showcasing their songs remotely. The hosts and a small, distanced audience will still gather at the venue, guidelines and COVID tests depending.

And if that fails, Scenario D will have no audience and all performances will be ‘live-on-tape’.

The Grand Final is currently slated for May 22, with semi-finals on Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20.

Countries are beginning to select their representatives, with no word yet from the UK on what their plans will be. Melfest, perhaps more excitingly, starts this weekend.