What’S This About A Stage Invasion?

[chrissa1]

https://news.sky.com/story/stage-invader-grabs-mic-during-uk-eurovision-performance-11369893

Do you think it’ll get us some more votes?

[Buenchico]

Given the quality of the song, removing the singer's microphone was probably the best thing that could have happened ;-)

[Mamyalynne]

Chance she may be allowed to sing again but she coped admirably.

[Mamyalynne]

Ah - she has been offered the chance to sing again but has declined.

[chrissa1]

I didn’t see it but I thought her song wasn’t bad when I heard it in the radio last week.

A bit unnerving for her.

[Islay]

Its the best song that we have put forward for a long time.
She coped very well and came across as very professional - such a shame.

[soliloquy]

She was miming anyway and the microphone was just a prop so whatever the protester wanted to say wouldn't have been heard!

[andy-hughes]

solil - As I am sure you know, miming is banned under the strict rules of the contest, along with no more than six people on stage, and no song over three minutes.

[rowanwitch]

First time we have watched Eurovision for ages. I am very confused. How long has Australia been in Europe. Some of the acts made me sure I did the right thing voting leave.

[Mamyalynne]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

[rowanwitch]

Thanks,

[Mamyalynne]

You're welcome, Eurovision is not just Europe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Broadcasting_Union

[Buenchico]

>>> How long has Australia been in Europe

The competition isn't simply for countries in Europe. It's for TV organisations who're members of the European Broadcasting Union. Full Members are shown here:
https://www.ebu.ch/about/members

In general Associate Members of the EBU aren't eligible to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. However the contest is extremely popular in Australia and the country was permitted to enter the competition in 2015 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the event. It was meant to be a one-off occurrence (unless Australia had won in 2015) but it went so well that Australia has been invited to take part in each successive year.

Other countries are queuing up to get in, with Canada probably at the head of the queue:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44059550

If they're allowed in though it could open up the doors to all of the other Associate Members:
https://www.ebu.ch/about/members?type=associate

So perhaps we might see Japan, Iran and Brazil competing in years to come?

[chrissa1]

Blimey, Chris! How long will the programme have to last if all these other countries were added?

I flicked and saw the songs had finished so watched a programme I’d taped thinking the scoring would be well underway. Wrong. After about 40 mins, the scoring had barely started.

Boring!

[ichkeria]

I feel sorry for SuRie but in all honesty she was cursed with a truly dreadful song.
We never learn.
Nul points beckons

[gness]

Sol....I heard the protester shout....Freedom....and I think....Nazis.....but I'd need to see it again to be sure of the second...x

[Prudie]

According to BBC News "SuRie was singing her song Storm when a man wearing a rucksack ran onto the stage, grabbed her microphone, and appeared to say: "Nazis of the UK media, we demand freedom."

[chrissa1]

It might have been Ed Milliband. :)

[Buenchico]

>>> How long will the programme have to last if all these other countries were added?

The singing part of the final wouldn't take any longer because the number of entries has already been reduced by the semi-finals. However the voting might take a while! (As I type, the voting from the 43 national juries is only half way through, so the viewers' votes won't be shown for quite a while yet!)

I'm getting worried that the fat chicken is in the lead though!
(I voted for Austria)

[chrissa1]

I happened upon, Sweden. I liked it.

[maggiebee]

Do you not feel that Eurovision is past its sell by date? Even if we won, which we won't, we couldn't afford to host it in the UK. Unless of course you know better.