Dara: Bangaranga singer says she almost quit Eurovision

The Bulgarian singer says her historic victory in Vienna came close to never happening.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthSportAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyFootball 2026BusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingSportAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveI wanted to quit Eurovision twice - then won it, says Bangaranga singer Dara16 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePete AllisonBBC NewsbeatGetty ImagesIt was an outside favourite, but Dara's song Bangaranga comfortably won the competitionEurovision Song Contest winner Dara says she wanted to quit the competition twice before securing Bulgaria's first ever victory.

The Bangaranga singer has told BBC Newsbeat she considered dropping out to protect her mental health.

Dara says she was left "shaking in her bed" after being announced as her country's act, fearing her newly diagnosed ADHD would be exacerbated by participating in Vienna.

"That was how my body reacted," the 27-year-old says, "and I was trying to calm myself down for three hours."

Dara won Eurovision by a record-breaking points margin in May, despite initially being little more than an outside favourite.