Meenzer

Azerbaijan 2nd, Russia 5th. Neither close enough to the winner to make a difference, thankfully!

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs is involved now. Remarkable... Mind you, this kind of thing has happened (and been retrospectively corrected) before. For example, in the 2004 semi-final Croatia awarded itself four points. Nobody noticed until afterwards.

Marginally. Just marginally.

FFS.

My favourite street in Copenhagen.

Seeya soon.

Urgh, absolutely rotten. Immune system is rebelling after two weeks of late-night carousing. Fortunately it's a holiday in Germany so the boss won't be checking up on me any time soon. G'night.

Also, watch out for the first one up, France. She's... feisty.

She is. I'm well on the way.

Aargh, no idea. Denmark is the odds-on favourite by some distance and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they won, but there's probably no point in going there betting-wise. Greece and Italy as each-ways and Iceland to finish top 10, maybe...? (If you really care, I wrote this earlier to justify my press badge and all, but beware - severe nerdiness lies within: http://escnation-liv...eres-value.html)

Aye, same here more or less. Only the second game I've ever left early - the first was a 3-0 home defeat to Charlton in the late 80s when things were starting to kick off around us so my old man took us home.

Tonight at 8pm on BBC THREE, you will meet... another ice queen: ...a little girl lost: ...a wannabe Italo-diva: ...a hard-working percussionist: ...a vampish librarian: ...and a high-maintenance Fennoswede who might just be worth it: Do enjoy.

Seems reasonable.

Tonight at 8pm on BBC THREE, you will meet... the ice queens: ...the Balkan puppies: ...the MILFs: ...the Eastern Europeans who would eat you for breakfast: ...and the random American who's somehow ended up living in Slovenia: (Most of their songs aren't very good. Sorry about that.)

Just had a chat with the lass from Cascada. She's common as muck, but in a good way. And now the press centre folks have given us free Swedish biscuits. CT would be in hog heaven.

Makes sense to me. Most people don't actually care all that much about Yoorop in the wider scheme of things, and it's an easy way for him to establish a distinct policy position on something (for once) without actually having to do anything.

When pyros go wrong

Aye. Well, as long as you're willing to pay for accommodation for two weeks and tolerate Swedish beer prices when you're not being fed it for nowt anyway.

Not even that really - they tend to let a lot of fan websites etc. masquerade as "press" at Eurovision events, mainly because none of the real press takes it seriously (obviously) and they want some kind of online coverage. We blog, we do videos, we overanalyse things to the nth degree, we drink litres of free Belarusian vodka at dodgy embassy parties, we fall over. It's fun.

Sez you who's singing for Croatia!

1. I'll get to that, don't worry - even I can spot the good 'uns. 2. She's been in the country for approximately 24 hours. This is her meeting the Finnish singer. So: yes. Accredited press, don'tcha know! (Blogging for a couple of websites, basically. Good excuse for a two-week pissup.)

Ah sure you'll be wanting to turn away from MOTD for these beauties: