How can Eurovision be sorted out?

[robertson]

Yet again Eurovision has proved pointless (pun intended) because of political voting. Can anyone think of a genuine way this can be avoided?

[sheffwed39]

its always been that way. its worth watching just for terry wogans **** taking. glad finland won. lol

[ktlou]

I couldn't care less about the voting, although it's funny how you can predict who's going to vote for who!! I agree with sheffwed39 though that it's only really worth watching for Wogan!!! Hysterical! And AMAZING!!!!

[UKbloke04]

vey true...i think that is why most people watch it nowadays for...is Terry Wogans wonderful commentary

[electricblue]

Thats why iended up watching it,and glad finland won but if it was the uk who was in looking like that with that song,,,,,,,guarantee we wouldn't have won,,,do you get the feelingthat no-one likes us or is it just me????

[littleoldme]

I think Terry Wogan has a point that much of the time the four "untouchables" (i.e. the countries that can't be thrown out - ourselves, France, Germany and Spain) can't really be bothered any more. I certainly got that impression with Spain (very bland) and France (yet another funereal ballad). At least we and Germany, with their jaunty country song, tried to do something a bit different. Neither was ever likely to win though.

[B00]

How about they dont announce which country the song is from? Just play them? That way they'd have to vote for the song they actually liked rather than their neighbours.

[Pickle Head]

The Iraq thing may have affected our votes over the past few years. Nil points is probably more than we deserve.

[robertson]

I also thought of your idea, BOO, but with such obviously close relations between these inter-voting countries it's very doubtful they would keep their songs secret from each other. I suggest neighbouring countries should be banned from voting for each other somehow.

[Francis Asis]

We could always pull out of it. That way they don't get our money and the whole thing falls apart. Maybe that'd make them think twice.

What on earth makes Europeans think that a war in Iraq affects the way someone sings?

[sunflower68]

There was a competition to get to be in the Eurovision therefore many countries did not make it through. Why, then, are these allowed to vote in the final? It should be just the finalists whose countries vote.

The Balkans and Baltic states all seem to club together and there are loads of them; we have Ireland (thank goodness.)

[littleoldme]

As daft as the idea seems, I think Pickle Head may be on to something.

Hans: "Ach zo, ve are reely annoyed viz ze United Kinkdom for supportink ze vor in Iraq. How shall ve show zem zat ve are upset?

Helmut: "Ve could send ein shpecial envoy for crisis talks viz zeir Tony Blair."

Hans: "Nein, Blair would just keep grinnink und grinnink und not lishen to us."

Helmut: "Ve could impose eine kleine trade embargo on ze United Kinkdom."

Hans: "Don't be ein dummkopf, Helmut. No-vun takes trade embargoes seriously. Ve need sumsink big. Sumsink zat vill shake ze UK to ze core."

Helmut: "Vell..."

Hans: "Ja?"

Helmut: "Nein, it is too crazy."

Hans: "Zese are deshperate times. Vot are you sinkink?"

Helmut: "Ve could refuse to give zem any points in ze Eurovision Sonk Kontest."

Hans: "Mein Gott, zat IS extreme. But it is genius also. Zis vill show zose Britishers! Vell done, Helmut, have some more schnitzel."

Ah, I love a good stereotype, me.

[brionon]

None of you will agree with me,but I watched it with friends from 4 different European countries and I blushed wit shame when Wogan spoke of Lord HAW HAW.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

BOO thats exactly what I was thinking

[leandrews]

It's important to remember that it's not just politics that can affect the voting and result. Neighbouring countries may vote for eachother not only because they are next to eachother, but also because they are likely to like the same kinds of music.

But politics can however play a part. This could maybe explain why Germany gave twelve points to Turkey, due to the high Turkish population in Germany.

I think BOO had a good suggestion though.Just play the song but not publish which country it comes from. That way it's all about the song, and could make the competition more fair.