Eurovision 2011 - 10/12/14 May 2011

For those really interested in bloc voting - this is very interesting. http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/9/2/1.html

ISTR Derek correctly predicted top three (though not the order) a few years ago (before the juries returned to shake things up a bit) - entirely based on previous years' voting patterns, and ignoring the songs entirely!

God, not only do we have a blow by blow account of something we all watched anyway, now Tumble Tool is giving us an insight into how he comes up with such reviews.

And so tired of the bloc voting conspiracy theories. It is what it is and like most reality shows whatever patterns the breakdown of the votings show and surprising results along the way, usually nobody can argue with the winner.

Quite - and it's hardly a conspiracy theory. Geographic borders don't define tastes - and with countries formerly in the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia, performers (and styles of performance) are bound to be popular in neighbouring countries, just as they appear in each others' pop charts. The same is true of the UK and Ireland, Greece and Cyprus, the Nordic bloc, and the Baltic bloc. It isn't political - it's just normal...

And as you say - a good song usually wins, and bad songs don't...

Blow by blow account? What I wrote about the 25 songs included my points of view about each one, i.e. ones I liked / disliked, ones which I felt had appropriate points / placings, ones which I felt should have been placed higher / lower (or even not qualified).

You may agree or disagree with me on my opinions on each song, any chance of someone reading The Songs section of my report (split across 2 posts pages 56 and 57)? It would be interesting to see how other peoples' opinions of each song compare to mine.

That's a lie. You seldom if ever make reference to, or reply to anyone else's viewpoint.

You don't want to discuss, you want to monologue.

Agree with Gav.

Tumble, you make points, others respond or point out aspects you've missed or got wrong, and you blindly ignore such things.

I'll happily engage in discourse WITH you, but not when everything I say is ignored by you.

It shouldn't, because albums have their own separate chart to singles / individual tracks. With adequate sales the official ESC 2011 album may well enter the official UK top 40 CD albums chart.

Why are you ignoring points directed at you, clearly needing a reply?

Would you like to point out one of those points needing a reply?

Also, I think you should only post in future if you are wearing a hat.

Final BARB ratings are in, and, erm, wow.

1999: 8.91 million
2000: 6.54 million
2001: 6.98 million
2002: 7.81 million
2003: 7.94 million
2004: 8.38 million
2005: 7.97 million
2006: 8.33 million
2007: 8.77 million
2008: 7.15 million
2009: 7.91 million
2010: 5.59 million
2011: 9.68 million

Highest rated programme across all channels of the week beating all episodes of EastEnders, Corrie, Britain's Got Talent, Apprentice etc. So the highest rated since at least 1998, possibly even further back - what a massive success!

I wonder why it was so down last year. Great turnaround though; perhaps stopping the public from choosing our performer for a change was the right plan after all!

Two 'big' established acts probably had a big part to it, capturing the young 10-24 (Jedward) and the 24-40s (Blue) age group.