How Eurovision ruined 90s starlet Gina G EUROVISION may have launched ABBA's career but it did nothing for Australian singer Gina G. "It didn't do me any favours afterwards," the singer, whose real name is Gina Gardiner, said. Gardiner, 39, who grew up in Brisbane, represented the UK in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, placing eighth with her catchy dance track Ooh Aah . . . Just A Little Bit. "Who knows what would have happened, whether Just A Little Bit would have been a massive hit regardless of Eurovision," Gardiner said. "I was kind of pushed into it by the record label (Warner), and when you're a newly signed artist you don't say no," Gardiner said. "I went along for the ride and I was encouraged by them all the way, telling me it was a good thing." Gardiner enjoyed moderate success in Melbourne in the early 1990s as a DJ and member of dance group Bass Culture, before moving to the UK to pursue a solo career.

Just A Little Bit went on to be an international hit but Gardiner's career virtually stalled when she became embroiled in a 10-year legal battle with UK producer and songwriter Steve Rodway. "I was unable to record due to a contract I was stuck in with a producer that turned bad," she said. "He kept me in court for 10 years. Gardiner lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children, where she writes film and TV scripts, and has set up her own label, Stunt Girl Music. She said she co-wrote Just A Little Bit with Rodway and Simon Tauber after moving to the UK, although she never got a writing credit on the song. The Eurovision Song Contest is on SBS at 7.30pm. Who is Gina G dating? Gina G boyfriend, husband total Who is she dating right now? Charlie Watson (i) and Gina G have been married for 13 years since 7th Dec 2003. view relationship Relationships was previously married to Charlie Watson (2003). About Gina G is a 46 year old Australian Singer born on 3rd August, 1970 in Brisbane, Queensland.

Her zodiac sign is Leo Gina G is a member of the following lists: Australian house musicians , Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1996 and Eurodance musicians . Contribute Help us build our profile of Gina G! Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Relationship Statistics Warner Bros, Stunt Girl Music, WEA, Discipline Music Official Websites Gina G (born Gina Mary Gardiner, 3 August 1970) is an Australian singer who represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo 1996, with the song "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit", which reached #1 in the UK singles chart. The song remains (as of 2014) the last UK Eurovision entry to top the UK charts. The song also reached the US top 20 and earned G a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording. Her other UK Top 30 hits are "I Belong to You" (1996), "Fresh" (1997), "Ti'Amo" (1997) and "Gimme Some Love" (1997).

More about Gina G Eurovision UK: Interview with Gina G [part 1] by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani July 30, 2013 4:00 pm 52 views 0 Gina G, the representative in Eurovision 1996 for the United Kingdom with the song Ooh Aah… just a little bit, will appear on the Stockholm Pride stage on August 1st. Esctoday.com got the chance to have a very interesting interview with the artist where she reveals many aspects of her life, Eurovision and of course the Stockholm Pride 2013. The interview is split in two parts and you can read the first part below. How is Gina G the real person behind the scenes? Tell us about yourself. I currently live in the US, in Santa Monica, California. It’s a great place to live because I’m always happiest when close to a beach. I grew up in Queensland, Australia and its’ all beach, sun, surf and sand out there and I need some of that.

Growing up in Queensland was great, but what wasn’t great was the spiders and cockroaches that are the size of birds, and let’s not talk about the bugs. They are disproportionate to any kind you would find anywhere in the world. Best described as magnified!! Being an Arachnophobe…I had to get outta there. After spending a few years in Melbourne, in 1994, I moved to the UK for the sole purpose of pursuing a music career. I had been a club DJ since I left school and loved it, but my passion and ultimate goal was to be on the records not playing them. After the success I had in 1996, 97 and 98, my career was put on hold due to a producer…gone bad. The long and the short of it is, he requested me to a sign a silly piece of paper or threatened to pull the project. I had no choice. Unbeknown to me, this allowed him full control of my career without an end date. To read the fine print on this piece of paper, you would need bi-focals.

Ooh Aah was played to Warner Music in London and it was signed on the spot, but through the producer as HIS project. The project was mine, I brought the song to him to just REMIX! But he took over and wanted the whole pie, not just a piece. I was cornered. When the second album was due, he disappeared. Sounds good doesn’t it? It wasn’t. He not only disappeared, but also with all the royalties paid direct to him from Warner Music, including my 50%. His disappearance also resulted in me being stuck in his ridiculous contract until I could legally be freed. I could not record another note unless I was out of his binding contract. It took until 1999, and a lot of lawyers through the British High Court to be finally free to record again. This crucified my pop career. It was like having to start all over again. I felt like Tina Turner when she said “I don’t want anything, just my name!” Which is basically all I got. I knew it was going to be a long road to try and make my way into the charts again so and in the downtime.

So in 2003 I got married, started a family, and then moved to the US in 2005, ultimately for my husband’s career. Mine took a bit of a backseat so I could be a full time mum, but my love for music had always kept one foot in the door. All this time I had never really stopped making music. I was always writing songs and in the studio recording whenever I had the chance. I collaborated with other writers and artists. I was featured as an artist many times on various releases but remained anonymous. That was an interesting experience. Then I finally released a single 2006 called “Tonight’s The Night”. The video to this song is my best one yet. I’m very proud of it. It also shows the very non-serious side of me very well. Please check it out on youtube, for a serious laugh. This video was really well received and considering I had been out of the pop scene for so long, the single did better than I expected. And all on it’s own, the video made it’s way to the US where it was played everywhere in stores, malls, and music channels.

I took another break from music to have my second child and back to being a full time mum, which I loved. Then in October 2011, I drastically changed my image and released another single called “Next 2 You” – A progressive club track remixed by a stomping remix team in the UK – “Club Junkies”. Their remix turned the song into exactly what I was trying to achieve with other producers. It was so great we released it as the single radio version because it just slammed. Progressive dance is exactly where I want to go musically from hereon. And way more progressive than people would ever imagine. Although I pushed for it, the production on all my singles were never hard enough for me. I like them hard and slamming (excuse the paronomasia). My favorite producer in the world is Axwell – and he’s SWEDISH!! All of my favorite dance tracks have come out of Sweden and I would kill to work with him! He is an inspiration to me as a producer and DJ. I’ve been a fan of Swedish Mafia for years, and now he’s out on his own and having major success. Good for him. If I got to meet him, I would keel over.

And he’s GORGEOUS. Like the rest of the Swedish population!! Ironically, when I was asked to perform at Pride, I had already planned to release a new single in Europe for this summer! My plan was to release the track to the DJs first, then on iTunes. I’ve always had great DJ support and believe I will again on this new single, which is “yes” – hard and slamming. It’s also the first track that I have produced on my own. But would die for a remix from Axwell. Please read this Axwell. Please?? I’ve always wanted to be a producer and been watching them for decades in studios wishing I could produce my own songs. Finally I am. When I was offered to perform at Pride I quickly decided to push the single release forward to have it available on iTunes by August 1st, the night I perform. I’ll be doing some radio interviews as well in Stockholm, so if they play the new sinlge, Stockholm will be the first to hear it. Back home, my daily life consists of being a full time mum, running my own record label, writing songs and producing music.

On top of this, I’m in the process of setting up two business ventures, one online and the other to feed my passion for interior design. How on earth do I fit all this into one work week?? With great difficulty and sleep deprivation. It’s extremely difficult juggling it all with two small children. But I make it happen because I love creating, whether it’s music or design. If I’m not creating DAILY, I’m not happy. I just hope I don’t crash and burn. How was your Eurovision experience back in 1996 in Oslo? Tell us some anecdotes and share your memories and experience? Aah, Eurovision… Well, let’s see. I may lose thousands of Eurovision fans by telling this story. But I wouldn’t share it with such hardcore Eurovision fans if I didn’t think it was funny enough for them to forgive me. Because I’m Australian, I had no idea what Eurovision was. Okay, feel free to go ahead and scream at my photo on this page. I pondered over the name – ”Eurovision, Eurovision”… scanning my brain, it sounded so familiar…but I couldn’t quite get it. It sounded more like a European furniture company to me.

Euro-Vision. Okay!! Feel free to scream at my photo again! But…it gets better. When I found out what Eurovision was all about, I threw myself into it 100% and my fists punched the air. I was going to WIN this competition…at ALL costs. Okay, that’s not entirely true. Warner Music THREW me in the deep end, head first…and I had no choice. The “Powers that Be” actually locked me in a dark room, forcing me to watch years and years of Eurovision. When I emerged from that dark room I was white as a sheet and needed medical attention. Once over the shock, and being the feisty, upfront, opinionated person I can be… sometimes. I said to Warner – “ARE YOU ALL CRAZY”??? I went on to say –“Imagine in one hand I have my song “Ooh Aah”… and in the other hand I have the Eurovision Song Contest? They’re about as opposite to each other as black and white, left and right and YES and “NO”. And that’s what my answer is – “NO!!” I then said to them –“I’ll be the laughing stock of Eurovision.

There will be 300 million viewers laughing at their TVs….all at the same time. It might even cause a sinkhole!! People will DIE!!” Concerned as they were about my mental state, the Warner people remained steadfast in convincing me it was a great idea, that it would definitely help make the song a hit! Ok, when I heard that, I paused for just a second. But horrible flashes of a sinkhole, people dying and me being responsible kept on coming. But I had no choice. You don’t say “NO” to Warners. So out of sheer and utter fear, I began working my butt off. I involved myself in every single aspect of the performance. One particular person I certainly had working hard, was the wardrobe girl. She went through hell, bless her! NONE of the countless dresses she showed me EVERY DAY were good enough. This went on for weeks and still nothing came close to the kind of dress I had in my mind. And so the poor girl continued on with her relentless task, having to deal with my same response each time – “No” “No” “No” “No” “No!!!” She quit. Look, I had to shine like a beacon!!

Didn’t she GET that? I had to blast onto that stage wearing the shortest dress possible, so bright and dazzling it could blind someone. My hair had to be so big it would make Jane Fonda in Barbarella look bald. Plus I had to find two of the sexiest dancers in London. I had to do anything and everything possible in an attempt to take the focus completely off the slamming 130 bpm Euro sugarcoated pure pop EXPLOSION that was about to hit that stage, probably giving the Judges heart attacks. I was risking more deaths, but not as many as the sinkhole. BUT…all that worry, anxiety and stress was all for nothing. In the end…it all turned out okay. More than okay.I didn’t hear any laughing, there was no sinkhole and nobody died. But for a very long time, if I ever heard a distant laugh… I’d do an instant spin around to check to see if it was at me…. A lot of therapy was needed, but I’m good now! You were one of the hot favorites to win the competition before the final, what did you think of the final results? I wasn’t thinking.

I did feel a whole lot of relief to have gotten through those 3 minutes on stage without a a single tomato being thrown at me. And besides, waiting in the results room, chilled on ice, was a big bottle of Champagne. I couldn’t get it down fast enough. The rest was a blur and I just partied and felt pretty good about it all. Until the next day… Returning in full force was my anxiety about LOSING the competition. I knew what was waiting for me in the UK at Heathrow airport. Press, press and LOTS of press. What will I say to me? Will they curse, yell, and throw stones at me? Will immigration toss me out of Britain, banning me from ever returning? So in full disguise, about to sneak onto the plane, with my tail between my legs I suddenly noticed all the Warner people standing there with these huge ridiculous smiles on their faces. Aahh…Newsflash! I LOST, what were they all grinning about? “Ooh Aah” had just hit No. 1 in the UK Charts. Tell us about the story behind your Eurovision dress. Who designed it? Is it true that you had to shorten it or make it longer before the final?

Oh yes, very true. Ok, what legendary gay icon do we know that has to be at least 10 foot tall? Most of you will have got it instantly. I’ve already told of the wardrobe catastrophe and it was now getting way too close to the show date, and I still had NOTHING to wear. Until…one bright sunny day I waltzed into the offices at Warner. While walking past an empty room something caught my eye. Actually it almost blinded me with the sun shining on it. It was a vision. I blinked a few times…yes, it WAS real. In a frenzy, I ran to find someone and scaring them half to death in my frenetic state, I dragged her to the room and asked – “Who’s dress is this?” Her response was a non chalante – “Oh that thing? It’s been hanging there for weeks and weeks. Paco Raban had custom made it for Cher, but she turned up her nose at it and left it hanging there. We don’t know what to do with it, we’ll probably just….” She didn’t get to finish her sentence. Within a minute that dress was MINE….but minus 5 feet.

Your Eurovision entry was already charting high before the final in the United Kingdom? Did this put more pressure on you? Noooooo….Quite the opposite. Remember. Sink hole? Would you compete at the Eurovision Song Contest again? Which country would you opt to represent? I’m sad to say, probably not. As great an experience for me as it ended up being, compared to what I thought it was going to be, I don’t think I could ever top that performance. HOW?? The song, the dress, the hair…so much HAIR!! So much sparkle, and so much LEG!! I’m sure our beloved Eurovision fans would agree. It was a great moment in time, so let’s not mess with it. Stay tuned for the second part of Gina G’s interview at esctoday.com which will be published tomorrow! ESCToday is growing and always looks for new members to join our team! Feel free to drop us a line if you're interested! Use the Contact Us page or send us an email at vacancies@esctoday.com !

0 Eurovision 2015: 30 things you need to know - Telegraph Eurovision 2015: 30 things you need to know Winners, nul pointers, animals and a song called Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. Rupert Hawksley presents the essential Eurovision facts Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst Photo: Getty Follow 1) The Eurovision Song Contest was first staged in Switzerland on May 24 1956. This year's final takes place on May 23 in Vienna. It is the 60th contest, and the anniversary show has been titled 'Building Bridges'. More than 195 million people across the world watched the 2014 contest, which was held in Copenhagen. 2) The songs competing in the grand final are decided in two semi-final shows, taking place on May 19 and 21. Since 2000, the UK, France, Germany and Spain automatically qualify for the Grand Final, as they are the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union.

The automatic finallists were known as the Big Four, but were joined by Italy in 2010 to become the Big Five. This year, Australia will also automatically qualify, as well as hosts Austria. This leaves the remaining 33 entrants to compete for 11 slots in the final. Eurovision 2015: Never mind Electro Velvet, the Aussies are going to win 3) The rules state that the country which won the preceding year's contest must host the event 12 months later; this year’s contest will therefore be held in Vienna, thanks to an historic victory for Conchita Wurst, with 290 points. This is Austria’s first Eurovision win since 1966. Incase your memory needs refreshing, here’s her winning song, Rise Like a Phoenix: 4) Conchita is the female alter-ego of Thomas Neuwirth. While he hails from rural Austria, Conchita has an entirely separate fictional back-story; she is from the mountains of Colombia, and is married to burlesque star Jacques Patriarque (a real life friend of Neuwirth).

5) Representing the UK in 2015 are peppy duo Electro Velvet, performing the electro-swing number Still In Love With You. Germany’s selection may have been the most fraught, with the winner of the national talent contest (rock singer Andreas Kummert) turning down his place on live TV to a shocked presenter and booing audience. Runner up Ann Sophie will now represent Germany in May. 6) The UK has won five times and come second 15 times. Incredibly, Ireland is the country with the highest number of wins (seven), although, alas, none for Jedward who finished 8th in 2011 and 19th in 2012. Ireland has fared worse since, with Ryan Dolan winning only 5 points in 2013, and Can-Lin failing even to qualify for the final last year. 7) Between 1999 and 2013, the UK only finished inside the top 10 twice (Jessica Garlick finished 3rd in 2002 and Jade Ewen finished 5th in 2009).

Last year, Molly finished 17th with her song Children of the Universe. That’s two places higher than Bonnie Tyler in 2013. 8) While the UK have hardly covered themselves in glory in recent years, spare a thought for poor old Norway, the Eddie the Eagle of Euro pop. They have scored "nul points" more times (four) than any other country in Eurovision history and have come last a record breaking ten times. They have however won more recently than the UK, with Alexander Rybak. If the song title ‘Fairytale’ doesn’t ring any bells, perhaps describing him as the one with the violin will. 9) Songs cannot be longer than three minutes and a maximum of six people are permitted on the stage at any one time for each country. Animals are strictly banned, as are purely instrumental numbers. 10) Johnny Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest twice (1980 and 1987) and wrote the winning song for Linda Martin in 1992. 11) The UK has hosted the competition five times – in London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham.

12) There was a four-way tie in 1969 when France, the Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom simply could not be split. 13) Australia will take part in Eurovision for the first time this year . It's inclusion is intended to be a one-off, to celebrate the 60th contest and linking with this year's theme of Building Bridges. Eurovision has had a dedicated cult following in Australia for many years, which has been alluded to in previous broadcasts. They will be represented by former Australian idol winner, Guy Sebastian . Guy also supported Boyzone in 2011. 14) This may be Australia's first year competing, but Australians have taken part in previous years representing other countries: Olivia Newton John represented the UK in 1974, Ireland's two-time winner Johnny Logan, and Gina G (UK, 1996) and Jane Comerford as lead singer of German entry Texas Lightning (2006).

Gina G's song 'Ooh Ah, Just a Little Bit' came eighth at eurovision, but topped the UK chart 15) Although Australian participation is a one-off, in the event that Austria wins again, they could return in 2016 and co-host with another European city ... How the time difference would factor in that arrangement remains to be seen. 16) A singer named Ruslana won for Ukraine in 2004 and was later rewarded with a seat in parliament. 17) Spain's cleverly titled, La La La (1968) contained no fewer than 138 'las'... and won. 18) Among the contestants who have gone on to have successful careers are ABBA (1974), Celine Dion (1988), Cliff Richard (1968 and 1973) and Julio Iglesias (1970). Here's Cliff crooning away. 19) Italy boycotted the 1981 Eurovision Song contest, saying that it was too old fashioned. 20) Britain's Patricia Bredin had the right idea.

Her song, All (1957), is the shortest song to have been performed in Eurovision history. All in all it lasted one minute and 52 seconds. 21) What's in a name right? Titles of songs that have won include Lulu's Boom Bang-a-Bang (UK, 1969), A-Ba-Ni-Bi (Israel, 1978) and Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley (1984). An odd name isn't, however, a passport to success as Sweden discovered in 1986 with E De Det Har Du Kallar Karlek. Last year’s oddest title (and song), probably goes to France, who didn’t even attempt sincerity with the song ‘Moustache’ by TWIN TWIN. It’s about a guy who wants a moustache. 22) During the 1962 performance of Dutch duo, De Spelbrekers, the lights dramatically went out, leaving the amusing spectacle of two white shirts singing merrily away. Blessing in disguise? You decide. 23) Norway's 1980 song was about the construction of a hydro-electric power station.

24) The youngest winner was 13-year-old Sandra Kim from Belgium in 1986. 25) The first Eurovision Contest broadcast in colour was held at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, in 1968. 26) Domenico Modugno's song for Italy, Nel blu Dipinto di blu (1958), went on to win two Grammy Awards. Jemini's Cry Baby, Britain's 2003 nul pointer, didn't. 27) Danish singers Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler hold the record for the longest kiss during a Eurovision performance, lasting an impressive 32 seconds. A member of the production team forgot to give them the arranged signal to stop. That old chestnut. Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler share their 32 second kiss 28) More Eurovision winners have worn white (seven) than any other colour. 29) Aspiring male solo artists take note... 28 female solo artists have won in comparison to just seven men. 30) Watch out if your country performs second – no one has ever gone on to win from here.

Eurovision Song Contest - UKGameshows Eurovision Song Contest Produced in the UK in these years: 1960: Katie Boyle (Royal Festival Hall, London) 1963: Katie Boyle (BBC TV Centre, London) 1968: Katie Boyle (Royal Albert Hall, London) 1972: Moira Shearer (Usher Hall, Edinburgh) 1974: Katie Boyle (Brighton Dome) 1977: Angela Rippon (Wembley Conference Centre, London) 1998: Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson (National Indoor Arena, Birmingham) Co-hosts Broadcast BBC Television Service, 24 May 1956 to present BBC Radio 2, 6 April 1968, 3 April 1971 to 24 April 1982, 3 May 1986 to present BBC Radio 1 (also on Radio 2), 29 March 1969 and 21 March 1970 BBC Three, 12 May 2004 to 21 May 2015 (Semi-Finals) BBC

 Four, 10 May 2016 to present (Semi-Finals) Synopsis WHAT is the Eurovision Song Contest?

Or, more exactly, WHY is the Eurovision Song Contest? I'll tell you why. Desperation. Dodgy haircuts and clothes. Bitchiness. Voting alliances. Forget Survivor and Big Brother, the Eurovision Song Contest is THE original reality show, and its annual audience of 120m people makes it at least twice as big as the US Survivor ever was. Not bad for something that's been going over 60 years. The ESC was borne out of the San Remo musical festival in the 1950s and its intention was to bring the countries of Europe closer together, a little bit like the other EBU (European Broadcasting Union) innovation Jeux Sans Frontieres . Little did they know that the Eurovision was the one big reason why European integration just wouldn't work. Skirt-ripping action from Bucks Fizz The Eurovision Song Contest, the self-proclaimed "Greatest Gameshow on Earth" is an international institution. The contest was first staged in Switzerland in 1956, and the UK has participated every year except 1956 and 1958.

Every year on a Saturday in May, representatives from many countries in Europe (and Israel) all congregate somewhere to sing their hearts out and decide which was the best song. The song that gets the most votes wins, the writers and performers win some tatty gold medallions and the real prize is that the winning nation gets the honour to host the following contest next year. Preparations for the British attack usually began in February with A Song for Europe . Once relegated to Sunday mid-afternoon, latterly on Saturday prime-time, all the finalists on the shortlist (chosen by a panel of experts) do their song on the telly, which is then put to a telephone vote to decide which is the most popular. This becomes the song that will represent us in the forthcoming international contest. So, come the middle of May, twenty or so representatives from the countries competing descend upon some stadium or theatre in Europe, all with the hope of taking home the honours. Cliff Richard, who controversially came second with "Congratulations" despite being heavily tipped to win Each grand finale show has its own distinctive style depending on where it's being held each year. The hosts always speak in English and French with some usage of other languages too.

After the opening spiel we get on to the songs. Before each song there's normally a little piece of PR film saying "look how great your host country is!" which seem to have some effort put into them and yet make no sense whatsoever. Look! There's a man fishing (connotation: Look! We might be a modern country, but we still do traditional stuff), but he's quite obviously staring at that castle over there. Zooming into the castle (connotation: Look! We have old buildings!), there's a bloke using a big computer (connotation: look how technologically advanced we are! Compare that to our traditional methods!) then he'll makes some whizzy lines jump out of the screen which will whizz round and form pictures of the members of the band about to perform. Zoom out of the band to find out that the band were in fact in the fisherman's eye. Continue zooming out to see the fisherman. The fisherman catches something - it's the flag of the next country up! Marvellous. Alright so we made that up, but it's not too far from the truth.

Another highlight - before cost-cutting in recent times - used to be the introduction of the conductors for the country about to perform, each one trying to outdo the other one in the nattiness of their evening attire. If you think this is ridiculous, see what he wore after the operation So then, the songs - and what an eclectic lot they are. The rules seem to change regarding the language every year. Some years you must sing in your first language, other years you can sing in any language (i.e. English). This is where we learn about the cultural differences between our partners. Failing that, we'll just laugh at them instead for being so bad. How many Eurovision entries can anybody remember off the top of your head? Well Waterloo, of course, by the wondrous ABBA, Congratulations by ol' Cliff. Perhaps Makin' Your Mind Up, any song with La in the title (including the magnificent La La La). Ding A Dong was in ironic vogue for a while, erm... Some ridiculously-attired people who later won the competition The one thing you can guarantee from any Eurovision is that at least 80% of the songs will be utter rubbish.

However, they might be saved if perhaps they're wearing "interesting" clothes, have "interesting" haircuts or dance "questionably", er, we mean "interestingly". Notably the Germans went through a phase of fielding "humorous" songs, the most notable being by one Guildo Horn. The song was rubbish but was worth watching because he insisted on climbing all over the set for some reason. The next year the German entry was wearing some sort of electric suit which was covered in lightbulbs. And then of course there was Dana International, the world's most famous transsexual winning for Israel with the kicking dance tune "Diva". She was much maligned by the Jews in Israel but was a big hit in the rest of Europe. The Brotherhood of Man on the other hand are pretty much maligned by everybody. But they still won. Some ridiculously-attired people who later won the competition (hey, there's a pattern here...) After all the 25 or so songs have been performed we get a little break. Except! We don't anymore. What used to be the interlude still is an interlude, but in the age of direct democracy we have to work during it.

Whereas before a jury of random people would do each countries' voting (in fact they still do, in case of a communication breakdown and to blunt the perceived expat voting phenomenon), now the discerning Euro-viewer is the judge. Yes - it's a televote, hurrah! You pick up the phone and dial like crazy to attempt to get through and log a vote for the country of your choice. All the while Aqua, Riverdance or some 6th Form Musical act entertain in the background. "No, this isn't the number for Domino's Pizza" When that's over, the important and interesting bit begins - the point giving. This is always very exciting because with the advent of computer technology you never know what the score board is going to look like or do until it comes on. Normally it's just a screen based affair, but well done to Norway for using a virtual reality affair one year. Classic. Well it excites us, anyway. The scores on the doors Each country, in order of performance (or these days, in apparently random order), is called up via satellite link up (of course this has moved on from the olden days of "Hello, London calling...").

It seems customary for each country to say something along the lines of "We just want to thank you for putting on an excellent show tonight," which was very nice first time but ten years later and with every country doing it becomes very tedious. Each country awards ten other countries points depending on how many phone votes each song got in their country. The tenth most popular gets 1 point (it is customary for the hosts of the show to repeat everything in English and French), 9th two points... all the way up to 3rd which gets 8, 2nd which gets 10 and the most popular song which gets a whopping 12 points. Repeat with all the other countries, including Cyprus which makes us laugh because it sounds a bit like "sheep" when they say it in French. In early programmes, each country representative gave up to 5 points per song via the set of Blankety Blank Whoever has the most points after every country has given their results is the illustrious winner and can be crowned Champions of Europe, or something. Meanwhile, as so many countries want to join in the fun, the countries that don't win are sent back to the semi-final the following year.

Unless you're the UK, France, Germany or Spain because you pump lots of money into it. Or Italy, because you went off in a huff for the best part of two decades, only to repent and waltz straight back into the final. Hurrah! So the best song always wins, right? Well, let's look at the two other parameters that might affect the result. 1) Taste. Something that sounds good to us might not sound very good to the average Slovenian. Middle of the road songs tend to win. 2) Political Voting. Oh yes, don't deny it doesn't exist, this is one of the humorous mainstays of Eurovision every year. Do the Scandinavians really like each other's songs lots or do they just like each other? Is it pure coincidence certain countries' (say, Greece and Cyprus) insist on giving 12 points to the country closest to them every year, even if the song is very very bad? Will the onset of BSE/foot-and-mouth hurt the British chance of winning? You betcha it does. So every year it purports to be a song contest, instead it tends to be a political needlematch. Many countries take it incredibly seriously.

And this is what makes it incredibly entertaining. In 2009 there was a massive, though largely invisible, change in the scoring, whereby each country now has both an expert panel and a televote, which are combined 50/50 to give the country's final results. For the record, the expert panel has five members and they judge on the dress rehearsal rather than the final performance. We did read who was on the UK panel for 2009, but the only name we recognised was Zoe Martlew, one of the judges from Maestro . Admit it, you can't take this too seriously From the British point of view, though, the voting was possibly not the biggest change in Eurovision 2009. If there's one overriding association that British audiences had with Eurovision, over and above the music, the spectacle and the general naffness, it was the Factor X that was Terry Wogan , he who had been commentating for the television viewers since the early seventies (for the more serious minded amongst you, put your telly on mute and listen to Ken Bruce on Radio 2).

El Tel understands that Eurovision is so good, but only because it's so bad and his obviously alcohol-inspired dry, sarcastic commentary was hilarious (although seemingly not to everyone's taste). "Every year you think it can't get any worse..." but oh, it does. Who needs real names when you can just call the hosts "Dr Death and Little Bo Peep" and let them get on with it? A man who will say that after one song "that could win it," and after the next "I would comment but I was too distracted" after a woman in a tight suit was singing? And he gets just as flabbergasted when a really bad song gets top marks from somewhere like Bosnia-Herzegovina. Marvellous. However, he stepped down after the 2008 contest, forcing the BBC to grab the next available Irishman, who just happened to be Graham Norton . Henry Kelly must be cursing his luck that he wasn't in Broadcasting House that day. Anyway, Norton made an assured debut, and crucially knows when to shut up so that we can actually hear the songs properly, something that Wogan never mastered. "We haff vays ov making you watch" Eurovision, then.

Not to everyone's taste but it is what you make of it. Watch it with some friends over and you'll have a ball. Watching it on your own is a bit tedious with the 2 hours of songs with or without Wogan but still fun if you like it or don't watch. (Sage advice, no?) It's up to you really but it won't go away. No, it won't. It's here FOREVER... walks away, cackling evilly... Nope, no idea who this is Moving and grooving with the times Because so many countries want to take part, they introduced a "relegation" system in the 1990s so that the bottom few countries had to sit out a year to let other countries have a go. In 2004 this changed and a second contest in the week before, a "semi-final", was held. The Big Four and the top ten from the year before went straight through to the contest proper (it's a bit like Going for Gold this, isn't it?). Everyone else had to compete for the final ten places. However, everyone watching had a say and televoting took place in the traditional way.

In 2008, with even more countries wanting to take part, a second semi-final was introduced in the week before the final. The Big Four and the host country remain pre-qualified for the final, but everyone else must take part in a semi-final, with the top ten countries from each semi-final progressing to the final. Each country only votes in the semi-final in which they are competing, with a random draw determining which semi-final the Big Four and the host country will vote in. For the first time in many years, each country's performance in the previous year's contest has no bearing. The Big Four has been subject to inflation, and became a Big Five when Italy returned in 2011. In all the semi-finals, the points scoring is kept a secret until after the main event on Saturday (to avoid bias we suspect) and the qualifying countries are put in envelopes (real or electronic) and announced at random. The countries that don't qualify for the main event still vote during the Saturday show. Key moments Too many to mention, but one of the best has to be the chaos of the 1969 finals.

When the votes had been added up, it was discovered that four countries had received 18 votes. There were no contingency plans in the EBU rulebook to cover a tie, so the hostess had no option but to declare a four-way tie. All four countries performed their winning songs at the end of the night. Inventor Accredited to Frenchman Marcel Baison, who set up the Italian "San Remo Song" Festival (still going) which gave the idea of the Eurovision. Theme music Te Deum, composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Trivia The UK has come second in the competition a staggering 15 times. Its five victories were performed by Sandie Shaw (Puppet on a String, 1967), Lulu (Boom Bang a Bang, 1969), Brotherhood Of Man (Save Your Kisses For Me, 1976), Bucks Fizz (Making Your Mind Up, 1981) and Katrina and the Waves (Love Shine a Light, 1997).

There's no restriction on the nationality of performers, which explains how Australian Gina G represented the UK with "Just a Little Bit" in 1996, and how Switzerland came to be represented in 1988 by Céline Dion from Canada. The winner of the competition gets first refusal on hosting the contest the following year. In the case of repeat winners (e.g. Ireland) or poorer countries, sometimes the costs involved put a strain on the national broadcasters. The sitcom Father Ted had fun with this in a famous plotline in which Ireland deliberately send an awful song in order to avoid the cost of hosting the contest, but in real life, countries can and do turn down the opportunity to host the contest, electing for the honour to go instead to any offering broadcasters. For example after Monaco won in 1971, they declined as there wasn't a large enough hall in the principality, and since the French didn't want it, it was offered to the BBC, with the result that the 1972 contest was held in Edinburgh. Luxembourg also declined the honour in 1973, after winning for the second time in a row.

It was again given to the BBC which hosted it in Brighton in 1974. Italy stopped taking part in the ESC after 1993, claiming a "lack of interest" in the competition; an entry in 1997 only hardened the position of broadcaster RAI. Time marched on, opinions mellowed, and the country returned in 2011 with "Big Five" status, meaning they automatically qualify for the final. Luxembourg don't participate either, despite having previously been one of the most successful countries; they were relegated following a poor performance in 1993, and haven't returned. Eurovision on Radio 1? That's how the BBC worked in '69 and '70: Radio 1 produced the late evening shows, such as the 10pm Eurovision Song Contest. The shows were simulcast on Radio 2's long wave and VHF transmitters.

For the record, the UK jurors for the 2009 contest were (and we only got the names and had to look up the rest ourselves, so apologies if we've got the wrong Paul Edwards, or whoever): Semi-final Paul Edwards (dean of the Royal College of Music) David Larkin (?) Final Paul Goodey (oboeist and tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music) Steve Allen (might be the LBC presenter, or might be the former Deaf School and Original Mirrors singer, or might be neither...) Zoe Martlew (composer, cellist and Maestro judge - website, requires Flash ) Keith Hughes (perhaps the music historian involved in compiling various compilation CDs for Universal?) Jasmine Dotiwala (MTV producer and pop pundit) From 2011 to 2015, the BBC selected the song and performer without consulting the public. The first three entrants were announced on early evening magazine programme The One Show. In 2014 and 2015, the BBC Red Button spent some of its small budget on a special show to announce the competitors.

Eurovision Reveal (3 March 2014) and Our Song for Eurovision 2015 (7 March 2015) both featured a performance and an interview with Scott Mills . To mark the contest's 60th anniversary in 2015, the EBU decided to invite Australia to compete as a one-off. The contest has a loyal following Down Under, having been broadcast by SBS for over 30 years. Former Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian was chosen to represent Australia at the final in Vienna, singing self-penned song Tonight Again. It was announced that Australia would be able to defend their crown in 2016, in a European city of their choice, should they win. In the event, Sweden took home the honours, however Australia did finish in a respectable fifth place. As a result of positive feedback to Australia's participation, it was announced in November 2015 that the country would be invited to compete in the 2016 contest. However this time they would not be granted a pass to the final, and would have to take part in one of the semi-finals to secure their place in the final.

Web links Eurovision's greatest hits: What happened next for the song contest's most memorable stars? - Mirror Online TV Eurovision's greatest hits: What happened next for the song contest's most memorable stars? Love it or hate it, you can't deny the Eurovision Song Contest has created some unforgettable songs - but what happened afterwards for the performers? Share Brit winner: Sandie was the first UK act to claim victory Share Get celebs updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email In 60 years of Eurovision there have been plenty of tears, tantrums and more than a few terrible songs. Former commentator Terry Wogan yesterday said the song contest – live on Saturday night on BBC1 – was in danger of turning into a “freak show”. And he reckons this year’s event – featuring UK entry Electro Velvet – could be the most bizarre yet. Along with the awful have come the greatest hits, but what happened to those behind them?

Abba: Sweden – Waterloo, 1974 Then and now: Abba in 1974 and today The most successful Eurovision artists of all time and one of the biggest-selling bands in history, ABBA have never needed to work since they split in 1982. However, songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who penned Waterloo, remained active. In 1984 they released concept album Chess with lyricist Tim Rice, which was also performed as a musical. They followed up on that with a Swedish musical in 1995. They have also been highly involved in productions of Abba musical Mamma Mia!, plus the hit film starring Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep. The female singers, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, had successful solo careers – although Agnetha withdrew from public life from 1989 to 2004. At a party last year to celebrate 40 years since ABBA’s Eurovision triumph, Ulvaeus hinted at plans to record new material.

Celine Dion, Switzerland – Don’t Leave Without Me (Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi), 1988 Then and now: Celine Dion in 1988 and today Before Eurovision Celine Dion was only really known in France and her native Canada. She represented Switzerland as Eurovision singers do not need to come from the country they represent. But her success catapulted her to international fame which she capitalised on in 1989 when she enrolled for English lessons. With her new language skills she had huge success in the US, winning a Grammy and Academy award for her title track on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 1991. Other huge hits included Think Twice and My Heart Will Go On, the theme for the 1997 blockbuster movie Titanic. She has sold more than 200 million records. Dion, 47, lives with husband René Angélil, a singer and music manager, in Las Vegas. He is 26 years her senior. They met when Dion sent him a tape at the age of 12. And they first kissed at her victorious Eurovision.

Johnny Logan: Ireland – What’s Another Year, 1980 Then and now: Johnny Logan in 1980 and today Johnny Logan is the only act to have won Eurovision twice – with What’s Another Year in 1980 and Hold Me Now in 1987. Five years later he also wrote Linda Martin’s winning song, Why Me? Nicknamed Mr Eurovision, Logan now lives in Ashbourne, Co Meath. He has 40 singles and 19 albums to his name, but rarely gives interviews. Logan still writes and performs, and in 2012 he appeared as a guest on the Romanian version of The X Factor. In 2013 he hit No3 in the Irish charts with Prayin’, on which he even tried rap. But Logan has ruled out a return to Eurovision. He says he does not want to be a “scapegoat” for Ireland’s failure – after accusing contest bosses at broadcaster RTE of destroying Ireland’s chances with acts such as X Factor twins Jedward, instead of focusing on good songs.

Bucks Fizz, UK – Making Your Mind Up, 1981 Then and now: Bucks Fizz in 1981 and today Bucks Fizz had everyone hot under the collar when Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston’s skirts were whipped off by Bobby G and Mike Nolan to reveal tiny skirts beneath. After Eurovision the band enjoyed a string of hits before a crash on the way to a gig left Mike with life-threatening head injuries and Cheryl with broken vertebrae. That led to line-up changes and a split that turned acrimonious when Bobby G took his former bandmates to court insisting they drop Bucks Fizz from their name. Cheryl, Mike and Jay became OBF (Original Bucks Fizz). Sandie Shaw: UK – Puppet On A String, 1967 Then and now: Sandie Shaw in 1967 and today Sandie Shaw’s 1967 win with Puppet On A String was Britain’s first Eurovision victory and gave the singer a third number one hit – but she has since dismissed the show as “c**p”. She later launched her own fashion label and TV show. Often performing without shoes, Sandie became known as the “barefoot princess of pop”.

She had her last Top 10 hit in 1969 with Monsieur Dupont but continued to record, totalling 16 Top 40 hits. She retired in 2013 following a car crash in South West France where she then lived. Sandie toured widely and sang for dictators including General Franco, Pinochet and even the Shah of Iran. She also turned her hand to acting and has written children’s books. Following failed marriages to designer Jeff Banks and Virgin Group co-founder Nik Powell, the mum of three now lives in London with psychologist husband Tony Bedford. Sandy, 68, says she turned to buddhism after she “nearly died” through illness. Since 1997 she has been a psychotherapist for other performers. Gina G: UK – Ooh Ah... Just a Little Bit, 1996 Then and now: Gina G in 1996 and today Australian-born singer Gina G may have only finished eighth for Britain but her song, Ooh Aah... Just A little Bit, became a huge hit. It reached No1 in the UK singles chart and even earned a Grammy nomination.

She released a string of hits in the late 1990s before a 10-year legal battle with her former manager left her unable to release new music and saw her career stagnate. Real name Gina Gardiner, the singer tried to relaunch herself on the other side of the Atlantic by starring in reality show Reborn in the USA in 2003 – but was voted off. An attempt to enter Eurovision again in 2005 failed. She now lives in LA with her husband and two young daughters, where she runs her own record label and writes film and TV scripts. She says of Eurovision: “It didn’t do me any favours afterwards.” Nicole: Germany – A Little Peace, 1982 Then and now: Nicola in 1982 and today Nicole was just 17 when she became West Germany’s first Eurovision champion. The song – Ein bißchen Frieden (A Little Peace) – became the 500th single to top the UK chart and although Nicole’s international fame did not last, she remains a successful musician in her home country.

She has released 30 albums and went on tour to mark the 60th anniversary of Eurovision earlier this year. Nicole, now 50, married Winfried Seibert in 1984 and has two daughters and a granddaughter. She recently admittedthat she still has the outfit she wore when she won Eurovision. These days she keeps it on display on a mannequin in the hallway of her home. Dana: Ireland – All Kinds of Everything, 1970 Then and now: Dana in 1970 and today Dana's success led to a string of hits in Ireland and the UK. On a trip to the US in 1990 she appeared on the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network. Husband Damien got a job there and they moved to near its headquarters in Alabama. They returned to Ireland in 1997 when she stood in the presidential election and came third – but she had applied for US citizenship, which was granted in 1999. That year Dana won a European Parliament seat as an independent opposed to abortion, divorce and contraception.

After appearing in 2009 as a judge on TV’s All Ireland Talent Show, she ran again for the presidency in 2011. This time she did even worse after a storm over her not declaring her US citizenship. She came sixth with 3% of the vote. Dana and Damien, who have four adult children, live in County Galway. She had urged Catholics to vote no to gay marriage in yesterday’s referendum. Brotherhood of Man: UK – Save Your Kisses for Me, 1976 Brotherhood of Men, 1976 After victory in The Hague the band became one of the UK’s top-selling acts – but the hits dried up in the early 1980s and they split in 1982. Lead vocalist Martin Lee had married band member Sandra Stevens in 1979. They are still together, living in Surrey. Lee Sheriden did a music degree and lives in Buckinghamshire. He is married with two daughters. Nicky Stevens had a stint as lead singer with rock band Aslan and has also been in panto near her home in Dorset. She married Brotherhood of Man’s guitarist Alan Johnson but they have since divorced.

The group reunited for a one-off TV appearance in 1985 and got back on the live circuit the following year. They still perform occasionally – for gigs at Butlins camps where hundreds of fans wear flared-trouser suits – and recently joined Bucks Fizz on a tour. Video Loading

Question: Although she represented the UK in ‘Eurovision’, what nationality was Gina G?
Answer: Australian