Eurovision 2019

Maybe it's something to do with countries? Rkolsen is BBC World, indicating they live in non-UK territories whereas Gary McEwan and I both live in the UK

Michael Rice is certainly working Twitter better than many UK entrants. Seemingly getting a good reception wherever he goes. Hopefully this will go down well in the coming couple of weeks.

There’s certainly a small chance he won’t be as instantly forgettable on the night this year as we’ve been the last few years. The song has a really good build-up, and we’ve not really done this style of big belter for a good while.

There’s a fair bit of dross this year too.

Don’t we nearly always think our song is finally OK this year and stands a chance of being on the left hand side of the leaderboard to be disappointed on the night, asking what happened?

I've not seen as much of the usual wishful thinking this year, but there does seem to a genuine level of positive reaction from outside the UK.

I note both Semi Finals are now scheduled for 130 minutes and the final for 220. Bonkers stuff. The Final finishing at 0140 local time, not quite beating Baku but almost.

Haven't they doubled the voting window to 30 minutes in recent years, which is 15 minutes they could cut off quite easily (though the new voting system enables them to begin the jury votes as soon as the lines close).

I’m more than happy to have it dragging on for as long as possible. My true TV highlight of the year.

Sneakpeak of the graphics:

It reminds me of 2016.

The UK has drawn the second half of the final, btw!

I have to say I’m no fan of the extended voting window and tortuous results sequence at all. It was so much better and far more exciting when it was a short telesvote with interval act and then “can you hear me Stockholm?”. Historically in the U.K. the voting has actually been the part of the show that gets the strongest viewing figures, helped I think by the perceived nonsense of the votes being flung about all over the place. I can see the new format actually doing some damage to that as people tune in, don’t get what’s going on (because as far as I can make out virtually no one understands the new system apart from die-hards) and tune out again.

I think the new voting system is much more exciting. 2016 when it was first introduced Australia were winning. The new system had everybody on the edge of their seats.

Much better IMHO. Keep it this new way.

Just listened through the songs of the first semi and it seems a rather dull semi - glad the UK is not voting in that semi. Not surprising the top song with the bookies from semi 1 is not right near the top overall.
My favourite was Estonia.