It looks like auntie has employed Babelfish to provide the english translations to the foreign language songs this year. It's like trying to read the instructions for the Taiwanese SIM card reader I got off of Ebay.....

Well, I'm just too embarrassed about the Finnish entry. At least Lordi dinät take themselves seriously... My vote would have gone for Dustin the Turkey if he had made the finals...

BTW, if you still need help with the SIM manual, I have access to native Chinese speakers...

I have a feeling Dustin summed up the ROI's attitude to the seriousness of Eurovision. Now if only RTE was one of the 'untouchables' then you could've voted. It annoys me that we seem to make an effort each year when we obviously aren't going to win. Next year i think we should take advantage of our position in the EBU and just have an old lady smacking a woodpecker about the stage with an oar for three minutes to the sound of a child crying.

On a slightly more serious note i listened to a report on Radio 4 which said there was a direct correlation to percentages of different migrant workers in a particular country and the way that country votes in Eurovision. They could pretty much predict the end results based on it.

I managed to understand enough of the instructions to transfer the phonebook off the SIM. It's now gathering dust on a shelf along with all the other widgets that only get used once.

I think it is about time the UK pulled out. I mean what is the point ???

The UK entry was clearly a good song, I think it is about time we gave Eurovision the credit it's due and drop it from next years schedule altogether.

Even Terry seemed fed up by the end, if he doesn't do it next year there is no way I'll ever be watching it again.

Cheers

Cris.

People actually pay attention to crap like that?

(Says the man from where American Idol rates in the top TV shows every week. Twice.)

Believe me, American idol is actually ten times more enoyable than the Eurovision song contest...

I only pay attention because my (American) wife makes me watch it. And even she agreed that they have most definitely jumped the shark.

There are some hilarious, very camp gay Eurovision watching parties in Amsterdam, but you have to be pretty drunk or high to enjoy them.

I'm unsure of the exact rules and regs with regard to being in the EBU but I think if the UK wishes to participate (there's always some sad git who thinks it's worthwhile) then the BBC has to show it in it's entirety. Although it's worth noting the BBC isn't the only EBU member in the UK. UKIB (who represent ITV, CH4 and 5) are also members so technically they could represent the UK. In which case stick it on CH5 and then I don't have to miss Doctor Who and Casualty! Although I might then miss an episode of CSI then.

I've also read that a fee has to be paid for participation on top of any other EBU related costs. I'd love to know how much that is, and wether it could be spent on something more worthwhile.

Then of course you have to pay to host next year's show, should you have the misfortune to actually win. Ireland got stung for this several years in a row at one point.

We did eventually figure out a solution for that before RTE went broke.

This article says the 2008 event cost €19m (EBU paying €10m) and the 2007 one cost €11m, another one mentions Greece spent €9m in 2006. This article mentions a BBC cost of £173,000 (€217,933), although I read elsewhere that the "big four" pay 10% of the EBU costs each, so it sounds a little low compared to the €10m cost mentioned.