Not a hit in sight this year, to be honest, which always makes it difficult to predict. I rather liked Poland which didn't even make the final. Of those left I quite fancy Ireland and Australia; Israel is still the obvious but really not a song. And highly irritating; slightly sinister. Cyprus doesn't do it for me at all. UK will be lucky to get into the teens I reckon; more likely twenty something.

I actually feel for once, since there is no hit in there, we must root for Ireland for social reasons. Take that, China. And let's send a message to Iran, Uganda and other places.

Eurovision is just utter bollocks. No one votes for Britian and rightly so.

If Napalm Death represented us then we win.

Finland had the right idea with Lordi.

If I remember it's on, I might vote for Belarus.

I know the UK can do so much better than this year's entry.

I guess andrew will be voting for Hungary then!

Like JK it's hard to pick out a winner. Norway will do well, Israel is very quirky but hasn't enough mass appeal to win, Ireland winning would send a message to China (though of course they have now been banned from screening it). Hungary will only get anywhere near the top if there is a Lordi style campaign to get people to vote for a rock band. UK doesn't stand a chance, even if there wasn't the inevitable political voting (I don't care about the song, so I'll just vote for the countries we are on good terms with or feel intimidated by). At least this time the ex-Soviet countries will not be obliged to give votes to Russia as they haven't made the finals.

OK So I've put a tenner each on Ireland (I hope); Australia (a surprise possible at 50-1) and Norway (good performance and 25-1).

Worst start of a show for ages - picked up when the entries started; I do like the Austrian entry.

The Norwegian boy is the best performer by miles - he really is great on stage.

JK2006 wrote:
The Norwegian boy is the best performer by miles - he really is great on stage.

Yes very likeable.

Is it just me or is there no red button to see the translations?

Not sure about that Honey but I assure you - if you've got to miss lyrics, Eurovision songs are probably the best for that. So, a stage invasion for SuRie who someone thought was Michael Jackson. She actually did very well I thought.

JK2006 wrote:
Not sure about that Honey but I assure you - if you've got to miss lyrics, Eurovision songs are probably the best for that. So, a stage invasion for SuRie who someone thought was Michael Jackson. She actually did very well I thought.

Yes it was a really good performance. I'm not keen on the song though.

I quite like the Albanian one. Its like he is periodically possessed by Justin Hawkins.

Best staging by miles - Moldova - wait for it; brilliant; funny, clever (sadly, like most of the others, song not great).

Czech was just like "Talk dirty to me" . I enjoyed it though.

Crikey, Denmark's is a bit of a dirge.

And I think could be the winner (nobody else does) Australia.

JK2006 wrote:
And I think could be the winner (nobody else does) Australia.

I think it needs to grow on you.

Perhaps so but for me the best song in the contest and very well performed. I do hope it wins - at 50-1 I'd make £500.

I loved Moldova.

Yes for me the best ever individual performance - just taking over from the Bucks Fizz skirt episode!

I thought Israel might win, but I am not keen on the staging at all. Who thought the giant mike covering her face was ok?