Who will be the Heroes in Stockholm? Boom bang a bang it's Eurovision time again!

[SuffolkNWhat]

A new voting system this year!

Official site to watch the entries.

1st semi final: Tuesday 10th May 8pm BBC4
2nd semi final: Thursday 12th May 8pm BBC4

Grand Final: Saturday 14th May 8pm BBC1

Haha true!

Watched that video and usually with thangs like that I become very emotional and goosebumps etc but I jist didn't :/ but I like the eurovision song though :) I think she will do well.

I've got Spain in the sweepstake.

I've got Poland in the sweepstake. DH has got Cyprus.

I've just seen that a couple of bookies are offering 10/1 instead of 8/13 for first time customers for Russia to win Eurovision.

Which means that 8/13 looks very dodgy as the bookies will be off loading elsewhere.

Makes me think that Australia probably are the more likely winners from the bookies point of view. Its who Graham Norton seems to fancy.

If the do win, they nominate another country to host. Who do you reckon they would nominate?

UK? !

Ireland?

Does the nominated country have the right of refusal?

I just asked DH to pick a number, so I could pick an act. And he picked 26-Armenia?

I need to hear it now, don't I?
What do they eat/drink in Armenia?!

I would be fair if Australia win, that they nominate the act in second.

But would be funnier if they picked the one who came last.

Armenians eat bananas ( or is that our minions?)

'Georgia (Wurzels Do The Smiths With Liam Gallagher on Guitar)'
I've just had a listen and you have nailed it. I don't know whether to laugh or weep.

mathanxiety I can only take part of the credit for the name. The summaries all come from the great wisdom of MN.

EUROVISION PARTY PEOPLE

Updated best betting odds (from Oddschecker), and 'national dishes' (ok these are terrible stereotypes but the idea is something relatively easy for the average terrible British cook to do to get into the spirit of things rather anything else. I did better than others with some of these. It does pretty much look like an excuse for a barbeque in most cases!!!)

^18.Russia (Thunder and Lightning, Very Very Frightening Wall) 4/6 VODKA! JUST VODKA!
^13.Australia (Silent Bridal Cake Decoration) 4/1 BARBEQUE

21.Ukraine (Its All Gone Political. With Lights and a Tree) 11/1 BORSHCH (Vegetable Soup)
11.France (Suit jacket and White Tshirt) 14/1 BAGUETTES AND CHEESE AND WINE
vvv9.Sweden (British Indie Rap Crossover) 20/1 MEATBALLS
26.Armenia (Superhero Leotard from Marvel) 33/1 BARBEQUE AND HUMMUS
^22.Malta (Jesus Complex Walking on Water) 40/1 IMQARET (pastry filled with dates)
^3.The Netherlands (Dour Bourbon Gouda) 80/1 PANCAKES
vvv6.Italy (The Bewitched Garden Revamped) 100/1 PIZZA AND WINE
20.Latvia (Young George Michael in Black Leather Jacket) 100/1 ANYTHING WITH POTATOES OR A RYE BREAD
24.Austria (French Pink Bog Roll) 100/1 STRUDDEL AND WINE
1.Belgium (Kylie Five Star) 100/1 WAFFLES
7.Israel (Star of David) 100/1 ORANGES OR BARBEQUE
^8.Bulgaria (GloStick Channeling Toyah Wilcox) 125/1 STUFFED PEPPERS OR COURGETTES
vvv15.Serbia (Leather Tassles) 150/1 CEVAPCICI (Lamb Koftas) AND PLJESKAVICA (Burgers)
25.United Kingdom (We're Not Jedward) 150/1 CURRY OR FISH AND CHIPS
19.Spain (Cheryl in Bacofoil Says Yes) 200/1 TAPAS AND WINE
12.Poland (Captain Hook) 200/1 KOTLET SCHABOWY (breaded pork cutlet)
14.Cyprus (Killers with Cages) 200/1 MEZEDES (Cypriot Tapas)
^4.Azerbaijan (Miracle SheRa) 250/1 BADIMCAN DOLMASI (Tomato, Pepper and Aubergine stuffed with mince and chickpeas)
vvv16.Lithuania (White Leather Jacket 80s Boy Band Reject) 300/1 ANYTHING WITH POTATOES OR A RYE BREAD
17.Croatia (Tent Factory Accident) 300/1 FISH (Hell just stick it on the Barbeque!) AND BEER
23.Georgia (Wurzels Do The Smiths With Liam Gallagher on Guitar) 300/1
2.Czech Republic (Pink Triforce Princess) 300/1 RIZEK (Schnitzel - Breaded Pork or Chicken Slice) AND BEER
5.Hungary (Freddie Sore Throat with Builder Backing Singers) 300/1 PAPRIKA CHICKEN
10.Germany (Bjork Lite meets Japanese Harajuku) 500/1 CURRYWURST (Hotdog with curry sauce)

And for those of you joining in with the MN Blue Curacao Cocktails, more recipes here

For the most insane Eurovisioners Superhero / 70s Sci Fi and Disney Princess is definitely the dress code.

European (and those non-european interlopers) National Flags welcome.

Euro Flags optional. As are Remain Campaign Tshirts, Balloons and any other pro-Europe tat.

AND DON'T FORGET YOUR BACOFOIL

I may be excited

I got UK in the staff sweepstake got no chance!

Got my leotard and Bacofoil ready

MelanieCheeks Fri 13-May-16 22:36:53
Armenians eat bananas ( or is that our minions?)

This made me laugh.

BBQ and hummous for Armenia? I have lots of hummous!

I had a thought about the UK.

Why is our staging so shit?

We have some of the best and most creative people and industries in the world. We lead in animation, film and theatre.

And we have a band with two lads playing guitar with some spotlights in just about the most unimaginative display possible. The costume is beaten by the leather jacketed Latvia and Lithunian.

Even Graham Norton admitted yesterday that staging is now a massive part of the show and decides the winner.

So why aren't we doing it? Even Georgia are putting us to shame this year.

If its down to cost, can we just not have a whip around or get a private company to volunteer to showcase their skills cos frankly, ANYTHING would be more inspiring than our staging this year.

It should be called the Eurovision Staging Contest in that case!

marking place for tonight's song treats!
have wine etc and will toast the late Terry Wogan on song nine.
Graham Norton seems to be doing everything these days. Baftas, now this!
Enjoy everyone.

RedToothBrush J&J were on BBC radio this week saying they'd worked with one of th best choreographers in the country on their staging and movement for the show, but admitted that they didn't actually move much on stage.
Maybe it was a conscious decision to be low key after the dancing last year?

SheHasAWildHeart

What a TOTAL waste of time that choreographer was then! I would have hated to see them BEFORE if they made so much of a difference!

When was the last time low key won? If you take that route you have to have the most amazing song to compete with the staging.

I think its pretty safe to say we haven't got that.

I am thinking mid time is looking ambitious tbh with the strength of other performers this year. If I were to do my 10 countries with points including being able to give them to the UK, they would be a NUL point.

I am SO disappointed Norway (Icebreaker, Agnete) is not in the final.

Not sure if it was the song, or the fact that she has been a bit of a recluse, unable to do any promo, and not taken part of any of the pr events.

Bought some cocktails!

We obviously don't want to win. Like Father Ted....

We're ready, score cards printed, snacks organised. No cocktails though. Some Belgian beer maybe?
We didn't watch the semis so we'll get the full staging effects today, but been listening to all tracks for weeks. I must say I hope Russia don't win. That would be quite boring. I tried to understand the "new' voting system that combines the jury and people : will every country declare two sets of votes? Or add them together so the top vote is 24 points? I guess we will find out soon enough.

I believe that the votes are being announced in two separate rounds. Also the amount of time the voting is open is longer than last year, but apparently the show is shorter(!).

I am trying to change my username.(It's Raahh) to reflect that I am supporting Armenia. My laptop is playing up, so this is a test.