Nicky Byrne’s Eurovision hopes have got a boost after one of his semi-final competitors has been removed from the competition.
According to RTE Ten, Romania’s Ovidiu Anton was among 19 acts hoping to qualify for the second semi-final in Stockholm on May 12.
Singing Moment of Silence, the 24-year-old was disqualified after broadcaster Televiziunea Romana (TVR) failed to pay a debt of €16million – owed to the European Broadcasting Union since 2007.
Luck: Nicky’s Eurovision hopes have been given a boost | ANDRES POVEDA
The EBU described the choice to exclude Romania from next month’s contest as “regrettable” – insisting they were sad attempts to resolve the issue had “received no response from the Romanian government”.
The running order for the remaining 18 countries in the second semi-final will remain the same, with Nicky performing Sunlight seventh on the night.
The contest’s final takes place on May 14 and will be presented by former host Petra Mede and last year’s winner Mans Zelmerlow.
