Well done to Portugal!

It's all over for another year, I can hear some of you sigh with relief. Oh go on it's a bit of fun, you have to have a little look and giggle at the some of the acts. To be honest though this year, the whole contest wreaked of good powerful songs, I think the best quality yet. Of course there was a dancing gorilla, a couple who yodelled, a man with a horses head, three brides for three blokes and a bare bottom even unexpectedly appeared. Not sure that was part of the show but the rest, well, you can't have Eurovision without them.

A big huge well done to Lucie Jones with our UK entry 'Never Give Up On You' which came 15th! yeah 15th! That is the best we've done in a while. A stunning performance and she should be very proud of herself. We certainly are. Lucie was an X Factor finalist in 2009 but left the contest in week 5, losing out to Joe McElderry who went on to win the competition. now you know her don't you?

Why do the UK go through to the final automatically?

There is quite a bit of build up in the week before Eurovision with semi finals and countries battling to get to the final. This made me think of the reason why the UK automatically go through, something I never really bothered to find out. Apparently the big five countries France, Germany Italy, Spain and ourselves go through automatically as they are the five largest economically contributors to the contest, it's a bit like a reward. Pop that on your sticker chart! 

Why are Australia in the contest?

I think we've all asked this question about a few countries that seem to creep into, what we naturally think is a strict European contest. Well I'm sorry to shock you the title 'Eurovision' is a bit misleading. It hasn't anything to do with being European and sorry to disappoint the Brexit bashers, it has nothing to do with the European Union either. Being eligible to compete is not determined by geographical location but it does have a lot to do with the EBU, European Broadcasting Union. You must pay a bit of dosh and broadcast the programme in your country, which Australia being huge fans of Eurovision do. Their entry was only supposed to be a 'one off' for the 60th anniversary in 2015 but they did so well they returned again last year and again this year. Good song as well, and thank you for your 12 points, we will love you forever. 

And the winner is.......Portugal

It is a lovely song, which was sung by Salvador Sobral. Portugal's first ever win so that's a great achievement. It's a very old fashioned romantic song, I was quite mesmerised by it and completely different to a lot of the other acts. It was the 'now we are going to slow things right down' moment but it worked and grabbed the viewers. What a wonderful gesture to sing with his sister Luisa who composed the song, at the end of the evening. This followed a brilliant acceptance speech in which after stating that 'we live in a world of disposable music' he also said:

'This is a vote for the people who actually mean something with their music. Music is not fireworks, music is feeling, so let's try to do this and bring music back'

I quite like him and enjoyed the whole thing really. I never cared for Eurovision too much before but love it or hate it I think it will continue to give us entertainment however you choose to accept it. Some turn it off, some go right out there and dress up, hold parties and make an evening of it. It's a bit of fun unless your highly competitive then it becomes serious business or if you placed a bet on the favourite to win, well if you did that this year then you're quids in! 

Well done to Graham Norton who I know will never ever replace the mighty Terry Wogan but he does a grand job, very funny. So it's goodbye from the Ukraine and onto Portugal in 2018. I personally can't wait!!!

Thanks for reading and catch you tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday.