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

Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have ruled out a reunion at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in their native Sweden.

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the band winning the competition with their song Waterloo.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the pair also dismissed the idea that they might compose the host nation's entry.

Since Abba won in 1974, Sweden has gone on to win Eurovision six more times, including this year in Liverpool.

Soon after winning Eurovision, Abba's breakout hit Waterloo became their first UK Number 1 and reached the top of the charts in many other countries

Bjorn and Benny - who swore never to tour again and reportedly turned down an offer of $1bn to play 100 shows at the turn of the Millennium - say they do not want to get back together with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad to perform - even for one night.

"I don't want to," says Andersson, "and if I don't want to, the others won't. It's the same for all four of us - someone says, 'no' - it's a no."

"We can celebrate 50 years of Abba without us being on stage," adds Ulvaeus.

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In an interview to mark the first anniversary of their virtual concert residency, Abba Voyage, which features digital recreations of the four band members. Ulvaeus describes the response of audiences to the London show as "surpassing every expectation".

"That emotional connection was the important thing for us," he says. "We never knew until we started whether that would work.

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

Ulvaeus believes the groundbreaking technology employed in their show will be used in future to create avatars of deceased artists who cannot give their consent - posing a dilemma for both producers and audiences.

"We can say 'yes' or 'no' to everything, so the audience knows that we are behind this," he says, "so it would be an ethical question".

And they acknowledge that the technology could also be misused to create 'deep fakes' with the potential to spread disinformation.

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

While it was initially reported that the purpose-built Abba Voyage arena would be dismantled and transported around the world following its London run, the songwriters say they are now considering gifting the building - constructed near the Olympic Stadium in Stratford - "to the community" in the event they are unable to extend the lease when it expires in four years.

They are also considering building replicas of the structure in North America and Asia, and would like to take the immersive virtual reality show to Australia.

When asked if they would be keen to see a third instalment of the hit Hollywood romantic comedy, Mamma Mia - based around their music and set on an idyllic Greek island - Andersson issues a blow to fans of the musical. Without substantial changes, he says - a new setting and an irresistible script - there will not be another film in the series.

"That's just wishful thinking," he says.

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The duo have known each other since 1966 and say their constant desire to write new material and do new things has kept their relationship fresh.

"Because we never stood still none of us has stagnated," explains Ulvaeus, "which so often happens in songwriting duos."

They even say that over the course of 57 years, they have never really fallen out.

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

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

Watch the Newsnight interview in full at 22:30 on BBC Two or on BBC iPlayer