Jane Comerford

The Countdown to the 69. Eurovision Song Contest live from Basel.

On the occasion of Hape Kerkeling's 50th birthday, the "Gala Film" tells the story of the adventurous preparations in Berlin's Friedrichstadt-Palast for a lavish gala show that will, of course, never take place. Barbara Schöneberger takes on the role of the presenter and Hape himself appears as the chaotic director of the supposed "show", as his incompetent manager and as a pushy journalist.

Peter Urban has commentated Eurovision for German audiences for 25 years and as he is stepping down he takes a look back at his memories and the evolution of the contest during that time.