Azerbaijan Drip Drop looks like the winner; don't like it myself but it's very today, sort of Rihanna does Derulo - Safura - worth a tenner at 9-4 on.

By the way, the UK is 200-1 in some places and not worth even £1!

You know, I had actually completely forgotten it was coming up. Is it just me or is there a lot less interest this year? I'm sure this time last year people were placing bets on Alexander Rybak to win, talking about Lloyd Webber (and whatever the singer was called. There was also quite a lot of talk about some of the other entries (France, Greece....).

Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

Hungary has withdrawn this year due to the economic crisis, saying that Eurovision is not a priority

david wrote:
You know, I had actually completely forgotten it was coming up. Is it just me or is there a lot less interest this year?

There has been a lot less interest in the last 25 years, never mind the last year. Also the fact that the UK's entry is awfull has exasperated the situation.

Well Robbie - I have to take exception to that; when I took over the UK end it was, indeed, dropping viewers and popularity. The year before I started (Frances Ruffelle) it had tiny viewing figures and Alan Yentob was trying to dump it from BBC1.
But in 1995 I found Love City Groove, a mixed race entry which reached No7 on the UK chart, and ratings shot up. Next year, 1996, Gina G went to No1 with Oooh Aaah Just A Little Bit and though we only came 8th in Eurovision, we got huge ratings and coverage. When we won in 1997 with Katrina and Love Shine A Light it was the top rated show and the year after, when we hosted in Birmingham (and came second with Imaani) it got massive viewing figures.

Sadly the decline has come with my own slight lessening in popularity.

Normally by now I would be sending in endless reports and ramblings from the venue, but sadly events have prevented me from making it this year. Is there a draught in here, or is that a collective sigh of relief I feel?

It is quite depressing to be missing only my second contest since 1995, but at eight quid for a beer, and no free bars to be found, unlike the extravagant generosity of the Muscovites last year, perhaps it is just as well. Hangovers are painful enough without associated bankruptcy.

For those not in the know, events are already well underway in Oslo. Eurovision is a big lumbering beast these days but I still love it. From what little chance I have had to hear the songs, I agree with you, JK, that Azerbaijan is the one to beat, but, unlike last year, there is no obvious front runner. I feared for the vocals and English accent of the Azeri singer, but friends on the spot confirm that the voice is fine, and it appears she has followed my advice from a much earlier thread and taken some English pronunciation coaching. Fear of flying aside, a trip to Baku in 2011 sounds interesting. A short Eurostar trip to Belgium would perhaps suit better, and I do think they could be a dark horse.

If I hear anything important or, let's be honest, more likely quirky or totally barking mad, I'll keep you posted. All I have for you so far is the name of the Estonian act. Malcolm Lincoln is not the name of the singer, but of the group. It alludes to an Estonian Who wants to be a Millionaire contestant, who when asked for the first name of the former US president, decided upon Malcolm!

I am immediately a Malcolm Lincoln fan, hearing that story.

Yes, and the poor hapless contestant must love being constantly reminded about it.