Julia Zemiro & Sam Pang Won't Be Hosting This Year's Local Eurovision Coverage

The banter of SBS' beloved veteran Eurovision hosts, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang, will be sorely missed during this year's local coverage of the event, with the network today announcing that the pair wouldn't be returning in 2017.

While expressing deep gratitude to the hosts for their years as the Aussie voices at Eurovision, SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid provided no real explanation as to the reasons for Zemiro and Pang's departure other than hinting that — after nearly a decade in the role — it was simply time for some fresh faces to take over.

"We thank Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang for a wonderful eight years as the faces of such a one-of-a-kind television broadcast that is Eurovision," Ebeid said.

"Julia and Sam's unique relationship with the audience is something special, and SBS has been fortunate to be able to share their love for the song contest with Australians for so many years running."

New hosts for this year's event, being held in Kyiv, Ukraine, will be announced "in coming weeks", the network explained, with Ebeid alluding to "an exciting new era of Eurovision on SBS … in 2017".

"We are looking forward to introducing the new Eurovision hosts for this year's contest in Ukraine," he said.

Zemiro — a lifelong Eurovision fan — described her years as host as "a wonderful and hilarious ride", as well as "an absolute joy and a career highlight".

"It's hard to say goodbye but thrilled to be handing over to the next team on a high — douze points," she said.

Pang, too, was gracious in announcing the passing of the torch, explaining that "there are only so many sequins, burning pianos, power ballads and singing Russian grannies one man can celebrate in a career".

"The time has come for me to pass that privilege on to a new team," he said.

SBS paid tribute to the pair's long and successful history fronting the Australian coverage of the annual song competition in a bittersweet retrospective video posted on social media. Check it out below.

This year's Australian entrant in Eurovision will be announced by SBS on Tuesday 7 March at 5.30pm on their Facebook page.