Abba rule out 2024 Eurovision reunion on 50th anniversary of win

Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson person ruled retired a reunion astatine the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest successful their autochthonal Sweden.

Next twelvemonth volition beryllium the 50th day of the set winning the contention with their opus Waterloo.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the brace besides dismissed the thought that they mightiness constitute the big nation's entry.

Since Abba won successful 1974, Sweden has gone connected to triumph Eurovision 5 much times, including this twelvemonth successful Liverpool.

Bjorn and Benny - who swore ne'er to circuit again and reportedly turned down an connection of $1bn to play 100 shows astatine the crook of the Millennium - accidental they bash not privation to get backmost unneurotic with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad to execute - adjacent for 1 night.

"I don't privation to," says Andersson, "and if I don't privation to, the others won't. It's the aforesaid for each 4 of america - idiosyncratic says, 'no' - it's a no."

"We tin observe 50 years of Abba without america being connected stage," adds Ulvaeus.

In an interrogation to people the archetypal day of their virtual performance residency, Abba Voyage, which features integer recreations of the 4 set members. Ulvaeus describes the effect of audiences to the London amusement arsenic "surpassing each expectation".

"That affectional transportation was the important happening for us," helium says. "We ne'er knew until we started whether that would work.

"Their intellect is telling them that we're not determination - but emotionally they are connected, which is simply a fantastic thing."

Ulvaeus believes the groundbreaking exertion employed successful their amusement volition beryllium utilized successful aboriginal to make avatars of deceased artists who cannot springiness their consent - posing a dilemma for some producers and audiences.

"We tin accidental 'yes' oregon 'no' to everything, truthful the assemblage knows that we are down this," helium says, "so it would beryllium an ethical question".

And they admit that the exertion could besides beryllium misused to make 'deep fakes' with the imaginable to dispersed disinformation.

"But it's hardly our fault," says Andersson.

While it was initially reported that the purpose-built Abba Voyage arena would beryllium dismantled and transported astir the satellite pursuing its London run, the songwriters accidental they are present considering gifting the gathering - constructed adjacent the Olympic Stadium successful Stratford - "to the community" successful the lawsuit they are incapable to widen the lease erstwhile it expires successful 4 years.

They are besides considering gathering replicas of the operation successful North America and Asia, and would similar to instrumentality the immersive virtual world amusement to Australia.

When asked if they would beryllium keen to spot a 3rd instalment of the deed Hollywood romanticist comedy, Mamma Mia - based astir their euphony and acceptable connected an idyllic Greek land - Andersson issues a stroke to fans of the musical. Without important changes, helium says - a caller mounting and an irresistible publication - determination volition not beryllium different movie successful the series.

"That's conscionable wishful thinking," helium says.

The duo person known each different since 1966 and accidental their changeless tendency to constitute caller worldly and bash caller things has kept their narration fresh.

"Because we ne'er stood inactive nary of america has stagnated," explains Ulvaeus, "which truthful often happens successful songwriting duos."

They adjacent accidental that implicit the people of 57 years, they person ne'er truly fallen out.

"We've had antithetic opinions," says Ulvaeus, "many, many".

"But it doesn't matter," Andersson says, "because what we've achieved together, keeps america together".

Watch the Newsnight interrogation successful afloat astatine 22:30 connected BBC Two oregon connected BBC iPlayer