Q&A with Eurovision Host, Emily Busvine!

It has been a whirlwind month for alumna, Emily Busvine, who took on the coveted role of Eurovision Green Room Host in Vienna this year! Emily impressed viewers with her composure and command of the room, giving acts the opportunity to express themselves fully, despite working within strict time-limits to ensure the live broadcast ran seamlessly. 

We sat down with Emily to find out more about her journey to Eurovision, and to learn what a career in broadcasting is really like!

Q: How did the opportunity to host the Green Room at Eurovision come about? Had you been involved with Eurovision before, or was this your first time stepping into that world?

A: I had never been directly involved with Eurovision before this year, although several of my colleagues at Radio FM4 are big fans and I have absorbed some of their enthusiasm via proximity.

Initially, I was asked to commentate and translate Austria’s national final live for the official Eurovision YouTube channel, which must have gone well, because shortly after that, I received a call from the Show Producer (and initially didn’t answer because it was an unknown number) asking whether I’d be interested in hosting the Green Room. The prospect of going from being a presenter for an indie radio station to a global TV broadcast was difficult to get my head around, but ultimately, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I couldn’t pass up!

Q: You spent a lot of time with the artists during the competition — did any particular personalities or performances surprise you, or leave a lasting impression? What was the atmosphere like in the arena?

A: I didn’t get to spend as much time with the artists as I would have liked, but one thing I noticed, particularly in the final, was how supportive they were of each other. They sang and danced along to each other’s songs, congratulated each other after each performance, and overall seem to have bonded over this unique and slightly bizarre shared experience.

The atmosphere in the arena was electric, and seeing the performances live is quite different to the broadcast version. Some songs, like “Viva Moldova!” and “Tanzschein,” really got the crowd going, and I was absolutely floored by Delta Goodrem’s powerful vocal performance.

Q: You’ve worked extensively in live radio and now on one of the world’s biggest live television events. What is it about live broadcasting that appeals to you?

A: By its very nature, live broadcasting is unpredictable, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. You’re in an environment where people are making snap decisions at a moment’s notice, and it’s your job to adapt. Ideally, you always try to prepare and plan for any situation that might arise, but there is always the chance that things don’t go as expected. Your interview partner might be less forthcoming than you were hoping, you might have more or less time for a segment than you thought, or there might be technical difficulties that leave it up to you to fill the time until everything is up and running again.

It has taken time and practice, but I have come to enjoy the challenge of improvising and thinking on my feet. When I have the freedom to be spontaneous, I have no time to doubt myself or worry whether something is a good idea. I am able to rely on my skills and preparation while being open to whatever arises in the moment. When things go well, it’s like capturing lightning in a bottle.

Q: Were you involved in student radio, music, or performance while you were at Cambridge? 

No, unfortunately! I envisioned a very different career path for myself while I was at Cambridge and stumbled into broadcasting while I was finishing my Master’s degree in Vienna.

Q: How did your time at Murray Edwards shape your confidence or ambitions professionally? Did being in a women-focused environment influence the way you approached a career in media and broadcasting?

Yes, absolutely, but I don’t think I quite realised how much of an impact my time at Murray Edwards had on me until I left. Looking back, being part of this community of brilliant, interesting women was incredibly inspiring. I learned to speak up, to share my ideas and to take myself seriously, but also to appreciate the value of asking questions and admitting when I didn’t know something. I always felt that I was on a journey together with my peers, and we all understood each other as works-in-progress rather than finished products.

Ultimately, my college experience left me with a profound sense of curiosity about the world, solid critical thinking skills, and a great deal of empathy, all of which are not just invaluable in broadcasting, but in life in general. I am able to consider multiple sides to a story, make connections to wider systemic issues, and advocate for underrepresented voices.

Q: Broadcasting is an incredibly difficult industry to break into. What advice would you give to our current students who hope to build a career in radio or television?

The first thing I would say is that there are many paths to broadcasting. I was not planning on a career in this field and still managed to pick up the skills I needed along the way to get to where I needed to go. It’s also important to remember that “broadcasting” is a huge umbrella that covers lots of different jobs that each require different skills. From presenting to production to research and everything in between, there are lots of ways into this field, so try and be specific about what you want and what kind of role you see yourself in. Which medium are you interested in? What kind of programme or format do you see yourself working in? The more specific you are about what you want, the more attainable the goal.

Fundamentally, broadcasting is about communication and storytelling, about educating and connecting with people, so any opportunity you have to practise those skills is great. Having said that, the media landscape is drastically different than it was even a decade ago and will continue to evolve. It’s worth exploring non-traditional formats, alternative media, and how we use social media to see just how many different ways there are to reach people.

You can read more about Emily's Eurovision experience here!