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Terry Wogan quits Eurovision

(August 2008)

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RD
RDJ
Source: Radio Times

Terry Wogan has confirmed that he will no longer be presenting the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Radio 2 DJ, who has fronted the BBC's coverage for 37 years, said it was "time for someone else to take over".

"I was considering giving up before Belgrade, and now I have to say I'm very doubtful about ever wanting to do Eurovision again," Wogan told the Radio Times.

In this year's contest, Britain's Andy Abraham only earned 14 points, while the Russian winner Dima Bilan bagged 272.

Commenting on the 2008 contest, Wogan said: "Days before the show, I knew Russia would win. The fact is, Putin was getting nasty, which means the former satellite states were always going to vote for Russia in order to keep the oil coming.

"It's unfortunate, I suppose, but whereas we have always taken Eurovision with a pinch of salt, the former Eastern Bloc countries are not sufficiently versed in the ways of democracy to realise they are supposed to be voting for a song, not a next-door neighbour."


Suppose it's not much of a shock to people given his rant at the end of the contest in May.
But now of course who will replace him? That is of course if the BBC does continue to participate.
:-(
A former member
Not sure what to make of that.

The comments about Putin seem unnecessarily vitriolic -- and I'd be inclined to believe that the like of the Ukraine would be less likely to vote for Russia rather than more if the Russians were leaning on them.

The protestors on the streets of Kiev certainly didn't seem to tally with these claims.

Regardless, it ain't surprising. The ESC is dying on its arse and Wogan didn't seem happy.
GM
nodnirG kraM
jason posted:
The ESC is dying on its arse

I'd say it's alive and well, it's just not the contest of yesterday.
JR
jrothwell97
I totally sympathise with Terry's comments, but the problem is very simple.

We live on a f**king island.
BR
Brekkie
Thank god he's gone. Perhaps now we can use some tactical voting to get him off Children in Need too. (Talking of which, Tess Daly is taking over as co-host this year.)
:-(
A former member
I have been waiting ALL day for some one to post this!

He has also BAD month the BBC:

Quote:
The BBC's standing as one of the world's finest broadcasting organisations has diminished in the eyes of its workers, according to Sir Terry Wogan.
Wogan laments decline of BBC
Terry Wogan says standards have slipped at the BBC
pa.press.net

The BBC's standing as one of the world's finest broadcasting organisations has diminished in the eyes of its workers, according to Sir Terry Wogan.

The veteran presenter said old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment had vanished.

In an interview with the Radio Times, the 70-year-old said: "When I sent in my first tape to the head of gramophone programmes at the BBC, I had made the fatal mistake of forgetting to rewind it to the start.

"Yet that gentleman took the time to wind it all the way back, and once he'd listened to it, things went from there.

"I can tell you, if I was a young chap coming over from Ireland today, they probably wouldn't even listen to my tape, let alone rewind it.

"Somehow, that old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment have disappeared; I suppose no one has the time for it any more."

Sir Terry also confirmed he will almost certainly not host any more Eurovision Song Contests, after this year saw UK entrant Andy Abraham receive just 14 points from European voters, placing him joint last.

Sir Terry said former Eastern Bloc countries were not sufficiently versed in democracy to realise they were meant to vote for a song, not a neighbour. He told the magazine: "I was considering giving up before Belgrade, and now I have to say I'm very doubtful about ever wanting to do Eurovision again.

"I've had so much fun, but I think it's time for someone else to take over."

The BBC said it had no comment.
http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/news/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=9197344


JR
jrothwell97
Brekkie posted:
Thank god he's gone. Perhaps now we can use some tactical voting to get him off Children in Need too. (Talking of which, Tess Daly is taking over as co-host this year.)


Oh no. Please no. Not Tess Daly. Judging by what's happened on This Time Tomorrow and Strictly Come Dancing , she'll present the show dressed as a carrot cracking jokes that fall completely flat.

Terry can still front Children in Need , simply because he's the sort of broadcaster who won't be affected by an incident like the moleskin trousers or the Buzzcocks fiasco. He's also charismatic and a decent presenter, which is more than can be said for some.
ST
Stuart
Well, he wasn't going to carry on forever, and better that he stops doing it rather than commentate and not enjoy it.

I wonder who they'll find to replace him? As we never get anywhere near winning these days, the only reason to watch is for the witty commentary.
:-(
A former member
Can;t the BBC just pull out?
CH
chris
623058 posted:
Can;t the BBC just pull out?


My thoughts exactly. Let's hope nobody watches this year so they do pull out. Seen as the BBC puts a lot of money into it, they won't be happy!
:-(
A former member
I do hope people understand, the reason why we should pull out,

BBC spends a lot of money of the programmes, and like many of us all we want in return is a Fair chance, but we will never get this, and so why waste the money, make the dam east European pay for it
RD
RDJ
Another thing I thought about is that if the BBC does decide to drop it, Is there any likelihood that ITV or another channel could or would take it up?

I know that there's no chance that the UK would be in the Big 4 then but do you think ITV would take up the programme for the nostalgia factor?

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