Did you recognize the famous pop stars hosting Eurovision?

This lady and two gentlemen opened the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin yesterday. We know them mainly for their singing talents, but are they also good TV hosts?

(Photo: EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett)

Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika wore different outfits, made scripted jokes and even did a few dance moves. It was their first of three nights in the 2022 Song Contest.

(Photo: EBU / Corinne Cumming)

Did you remember the guy on the right? Yes, indeed, it's the cheerful singer who dominated all radio stations in 2007 with songs like 'Grace Kelly,' 'Love Today' and 'Relax, Take it Easy'! The British-Lebanese singer Mika scored a few hits at the time that really became radio classics.

Mika is known to the Italian public because he was a coach and judge there on the local version of X-Factor.

Now, the singer is presenting one of the best-watched programmes of the year: Eurovision.

(Photo: EBU / Corinne Cumming)

Last year the Eurovision Song Contest was still in Rotterdam, where the quartet of Nikkie Tutorials, Jan Smit, Edsilia Rombley and Chantal Janzen hosted the semifinals and the blood-curdling song battle of Saturday evening.

The winners of Eurovision 2021 were the band members of Måneskin with their catchy rock song 'Zitti e Buoni'. Thanks to this spectacular group, the Song Contest will come to Italy in 2022.

And via Måneskin we arrive at Mika, the 38-year-old pop star who tried to be 'like Grace Kelly... and a little Freddie.' He's announcing the acts of Eurovision on 10, 12 and 14 May.

In addition to Mika, another very well-known name from music history is on the stage... Laura Pausini!

In the 1990s, this singer caused many people to want to learn Italian. Laura Pausini is known for 'La Solitudine,' a big hit in 1993, and the later singles 'Strani Amori' and 'Gente.'

After her first Italian albums, she started to sing in two languages, which helped a large Spanish audience find its way to her music. Laura Pausini won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album in 2006 and several Latin Grammy Awards from 2005 through 2018.

In addition, Laura Pausini has released English songs (with less success than the Spanish ones) and served on juries for The Voice and X-Factor in Italy.

In 2021, Laura Pausini was even nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. She earned these nominations with the song 'Io Sì' (Seen) for the movie 'The Life Ahead.' She did not win the Oscar, but the Italian singer now has a Golden Globe in her display case.

And now comes another milestone in the career of the 47-year-old Italian singer. She presents the Eurovision Song Contest together with Mika.

Laura and Mika - whose full name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. - present the festival together with Italian TV star Alessandro Cattelan.

Cattelan, the local TV personality, has experience working for MTV and presenting the Italian X-Factor from 2011 to 2020. So the three already know each other.

He became famous during the Covid-19 pandemic, posting beautiful covers of famous songs on TikTok. From there, Sam Ryder went on to release an EP that got over one hundred million global streams, a sold-out tour, and now he's at Eurovision with the song 'Space Man.'

Last year, Australia participated in the festival virtually, which didn't do the entry of Montaigne justice. Now, Sheldon Riley is on-site in Turin to make up for the pandemic year's low results. He will surely draw all eyes to Australia and score a lot of points.

She's from Derry and got very close to winning The Voice UK in 2020. Brook Scullion's song 'That's Rich' was inspired by the legendary singer Blondie, and both the bookmakers and critics believe that it might actually make it to the final and do great.

Perhaps this world star, Laura Pausini, will award the coveted microphone trophy of the Eurovision Song Contest to one of these singers! We'll see, with the semi-finals on May 10 and 12, and the final on Saturday evening, May 14.