Article by Michelle Stigwood (Australia)
It is the subject that comes up each year in our home, as we wait for points to be given and eventually tallied from around Europe in the final of Eurovision. How may points will the UK get this year? Will it be null or maybe just a lonely 1 point. Will they finish at the bottom of the table? Which countries will somehow overlook the UK entry? Which may give the UK a token point( not Ireland!) Such a unceremonious fall from grace for an entrant that has won 5 Eurovision contests, is a member of the BIG 5, and until 1998 has reached the finals so many times.

But while I have been brushing up on some of the Eurovision history I have discovered something that may assist the UK to victory…well … a small sort of victory anyway.

I see that Monaco has once again declined to participate at Eurovision 2016. The reason could be many: financial ( too costly) technical ( no broadcaster) political ( bloc voting) or perhaps all of these reasons combined. This is a shame because actually Monaco had a very good track record of reaching the finals at Eurovision until recently. And of course we all luv a song in a language other than English- don’t we? It is so cryptic, so mysterious.

Monaco’s last win was in 1971 when Severine (a French citizen) directed by a French Director performed  “Un banc, Un abre, une rue” ( written by a French songwriter). This win was memorable for the fact that Monaco was eventually unable to host the competition in 1972 and after a long hiatus where France, Spain and Germany all declined to host Eurovision, the UK came to Monanco ‘s and Eurovision’s rescue by accepting to host the competition in Edinburgh in 1972.

So that “Good Samaritan” act started me thinking…maybe the UK could sponsor entries from Monaco (or other countries that are unable to participate because of financial or political constraints) and just keep it all hush hush…

At least this way, when Monaco or another sponsored country wins, the UK can at least host Eurovision again and savour the taste of success that has eluded it in the past 20 years.