Dutch TV presenter Lucille Werner is hosting this year's Rose d'Or awards which have come back home to Eurovision.  Now in their fifty second year, the Rose d'Or is one of entertainment television's most prestigious international awards and will take place at an evening celebration in Brussels on Thursday 30 May.

Having been a Rose d’Or nominee herself, Lucille appreciates the honour of hosting the event. "The Rose d'Or awards are the gold standard of excellence and achievement in entertainment programming, and a perfect fit for Eurovision,” she says.

Star of the popular TROS game show Lingo which attracts a million viewers every day, Lucille is more than just a pretty face.  “My way of walking is different, and having this disability is a big source of inspiration in my life. I’m determined to find more ways to include people with disabilities and shifting the ‘you can’t do’ thinking to ‘you can do’ thinking.”

Using her high profile to raise awareness about supporting people with physical disabilities, Lucille established a foundation in 2006 and helped create several ground-breaking television programmes on the subject.  “The Mis(s) Ability Show was a beauty pageant for young women with disabilities and made a huge impact in the Netherlands.  We then realised that all talents should be celebrated; including sports, entertainment and career achievements.”

The CAP Awards were initiated in 2008, recognising the outstanding skills of entrants with physical disabilities which also led to a children’s version, ‘The Cappies.’  These were all hugely successful and attracted audiences in the millions and an adventure series that is currently in the works for a release later this year.

Lucille hasn’t been content to stop there but also works with multi-national employers to develop fulfilling work opportunities for people with disabilities.  “The Cap 100 project means the full percentage that people can give in terms of capacity and capability,” she says. “We’re helping to shift the focus to a more positive one.” 

With an impressive list of successful television and foundation accomplishments behind her, Lucille is obviously no stranger to bright lights and is commemorating hosting the Rose d’Or awards by commissioning a bespoke dress for the event. “Addy van den Krommenacker is a hugely respected Dutch designer but you’ll have to wait until the night of the festival to see what he produces,” she says. 

And is there any bias towards the Dutch finalist in the Game Show category, ‘The Dino Show’? “Of course,” she laughs. “Everybody knows that the Rose d’Or host doesn’t pick the winners but I hope that Jandino wins!”

Eurovision Media Director Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser says "We are delighted to be bringing the Rose d'Or back home, and we think Lucille is perfect for adding a little Eurovision magic to this great entertainment industry award."

The Rose d'Or:  A Eurovision Award
Location: The Square, Brussels
Date: 30 May, 2013 from 19:00
Registration: http://www.rosedor.com/home.html