Eurovision Song Contest

Last night was the Eurovision Song Contest. This is an annual competition held since 1956 among European countries. Each country submits a song to be performed on live TV and then votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. Generally around 100 million people worldwide watch it.

The UK has won 5 times and come in second 15 times. They had always been in the top 10 up to and including 1998 but haven't done all that great since then. In fact they got 'nul points' for the first time ever in 2003 and again in 2008. However, Jade Ewen changed all that last night after she came in 5th with the song specially written for her by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren called It's My Time. We watched Jade win the competition (to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest) earlier this year on the TV show Eurovision: Your Country Needs You. And Andrew Lloyd Webber even played the piano for her last night.

The last time the UK won was in 1997. We happened to watch it that year while we were on our honeymoon in Kent. Ironically, American-born Katrina Leskanich (Katrina and the Waves) won it with Love Shine a Light. There is no restriction on the nationality of performers, by the way.

Other notable winners include ABBA who won for Sweden in 1974 with Waterloo. (Olivia Newton John came in 4th place that year for the UK). And Celine Dion won in 1988 for Switzerland, although her stardom didn't come til years later and wasn't associated with her win. Cliff Richard has placed twice, once in 2nd place (1968) and once in 3rd place (1973).

This year also marked a new host for the British broadcast of the show. Graham Norton replaced Terry Wogan after 37 years.