It is almost certain that Elisabetta Canalis, the Italian model and girlfriend of Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney, will present the 2011 Sanremo Song Festival in February along with Argentinian model and TV personality Belen Rodriguez and popular sixties singer Gianni Morandi [65].
This “dream team” has been chosen after much arguing, with the Festival’s artistic director threatening to resign if RAI did not approve his choice of presenters.
Italy loves Belen Rodriguez, whose image is ubiquitous in magazines, on billboards and in gossip columns but some RAI staff were concerned that her relationship with former photographic agency head Fabrizio Corona, who has been involved in several financial scandals, would bring the Festival into disrepute.
Canalis is also popular because of her beauty and closeness to Clooney, who is as popular in Italy as he is in the US and UK.
Morandi is an Italian legend and his songs are still known and loved.
In choosing this team of presenters the Festival breaks a hallowed tradition – that of the presence of the blonde presenter on Ariston’s stage.
Could it be that Italian gentlemen no longer prefer blondes?
