When Eurovision Goes Horribly Wrong

Mesdames et messieurs... ..welcome to the...

Eurovision... ..Song Contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been entertaining viewers across Europe

The Eurovision Song Contest has been entertaining viewers across Europe

and beyond for more than 60 years.

and beyond for more than 60 years.

It's the biggest music extravaganza in the world.

It's the biggest music extravaganza in the world.

It's the biggest music extravaganza in the world.

It's cheesy.

Extravagant.

Mad.

Crazy.

Bonkers. But we all love it.

Bonkers. But we all love it.

The ultimate appointment to view.

The ultimate appointment to view.

However, with such a wealth of talent all on one stage,

However, with such a wealth of talent all on one stage,

and the scale and production of the live event,

and the scale and production of the live event,

things aren't always plain sailing.

things aren't always plain sailing.

The margin for error is huge.

The margin for error is huge.

From presenters who don't have a clue...

From presenters who don't have a clue...

Israel eight points.

Israel seven points.

Israel seven points.

Seven points, then.

..to monumental pratfalls...

..to monumental pratfalls...

Bosh! Like that, she goes down!

Bosh! Like that, she goes down!

..and abominable interval acts.

..and abominable interval acts.

I could do that!

It's a live three-hour circus and sometimes the animals escape.

It's a live three-hour circus and sometimes the animals escape.

It's a live three-hour circus and sometimes the animals escape.

Tonight's Eurovision entries...

Tonight's Eurovision entries...

..Britain's Belle and the Devotions

..Britain's Belle and the Devotions

shocked by their reception in Luxembourg.

shocked by their reception in Luxembourg.

BOOING AND WHISTLES

BOOING AND WHISTLES

That must be awful - to get booed.

That must be awful - to get booed.

It was reported that we were on stage miming.

It was reported that we were on stage miming.

Denmark's Birthe Wilke reminisces on a lingering kiss

Denmark's Birthe Wilke reminisces on a lingering kiss

that cost her the contest.

And we kissed and we kissed and we kissed!

And we kissed and we kissed and we kissed!

It was a full-on snog.

It was a full-on snog.

Because of this long kiss, we didn't have any votes.

Because of this long kiss, we didn't have any votes.

Because of this long kiss, we didn't have any votes.

And Israel's diva Dana International disappears backstage.

And Israel's diva Dana International disappears backstage.

And Israel's diva Dana International disappears backstage.

It was that famous "Where's the artist?" moment.

It was that famous "Where's the artist?" moment.

We've got the news to go to, hurry up!

We've got the news to go to, hurry up!

I'm Angela Rippon and tonight we've assembled Eurovision royalty

I'm Angela Rippon and tonight we've assembled Eurovision royalty

from across the entire history of the contest.

from across the entire history of the contest.

Thank you!

So, scoreboards at the ready and prepare to be dazzled and delighted

So, scoreboards at the ready and prepare to be dazzled and delighted

So, scoreboards at the ready and prepare to be dazzled and delighted

as Eurovision Goes Horribly Wrong.

as Eurovision Goes Horribly Wrong.

May I congratulate you on this wonderful show.

May I congratulate you on this wonderful show.

In the good old days,

Eurovision was a no-frills singing contest with very little

Eurovision was a no-frills singing contest with very little

Eurovision was a no-frills singing contest with very little

glitz and glamour.

Back in the '50s and '60s, you know, it was all very proper.

Back in the '50s and '60s, you know, it was all very proper.

Even the fact that Sandie Shaw went on stage without shoes on

Even the fact that Sandie Shaw went on stage without shoes on

was, "Argh!"

was, "Argh!"

But, as the number of countries increased,

But, as the number of countries increased,

competitors realised they needed something to make

competitors realised they needed something to make

themselves memorable.

They always say in showbiz,

you know, "You've got to have a gimmick," but Eurovision

you know, "You've got to have a gimmick," but Eurovision

takes that to the absolute extreme.

Gimmicks and Eurovision are two words that just belong together.

Gimmicks and Eurovision are two words that just belong together.

Gimmicks and Eurovision are two words that just belong together.

There's always one act with a gimmick.

For some, it worked beautifully.

For some, it worked beautifully.

# But if you want to see some more... #

# But if you want to see some more... #

If you want to be remembered, you've got to get a gimmick.

If you want to be remembered, you've got to get a gimmick.

The most famous one in the UK is ripping off the skirt.

The most famous one in the UK is ripping off the skirt.

Bucks Fizz brought the fun element to it.

Bucks Fizz brought the fun element to it.

# You're making your mind up... #

We won just by a few points.

Every country gave us a few points.

No-one left us out, which is quite an unusual thing.

No-one left us out, which is quite an unusual thing.

And if they didn't even like the song or how we sung it,

And if they didn't even like the song or how we sung it,

they kind of gave us a vote for the skirt rip,

just because it was kind of fun.

Others were not so successful.

Others were not so successful.

Mouth and MacNeal from the Netherlands tried in vain to outdo

Mouth and MacNeal from the Netherlands tried in vain to outdo

ABBA in 1974.

"I See A Star" by Mouth and MacNeal

"I See A Star" by Mouth and MacNeal

Oh, they were spooky! This isn't the Bride of Chucky.

Oh, they were spooky! This isn't the Bride of Chucky.

Stick things that had lots and lots of hair and very little body.

Stick things that had lots and lots of hair and very little body.

Stick things that had lots and lots of hair and very little body.

Very strange, very eerie.

We remember it, yeah.

Whether we remember it for the right reasons is another thing.

Whether we remember it for the right reasons is another thing.

The Ukraine tried adding an unusual speciality act in 2014.

The Ukraine tried adding an unusual speciality act in 2014.

"Tick - Tock" by Mariya Yaremchuk

"Tick - Tock" by Mariya Yaremchuk

He was actually in a hamster wheel going round and round

He was actually in a hamster wheel going round and round

and you're like, "What is going on?"

and you're like, "What is going on?"

Sometimes you think, "Am I still watching that programme

Sometimes you think, "Am I still watching that programme

"or is this an ad?"

You do see the bizarrest things at Eurovision.

You do see the bizarrest things at Eurovision.

One of the hot favourites of 2017 was Italy's Francesco Gabbani.

One of the hot favourites of 2017 was Italy's Francesco Gabbani.

One of the hot favourites of 2017 was Italy's Francesco Gabbani.

He belted out a catchy Euro dance track in Italian

He belted out a catchy Euro dance track in Italian

and enlisted Italy's top choreographer, Filippo Rinaldi,

and enlisted Italy's top choreographer, Filippo Rinaldi,

and enlisted Italy's top choreographer, Filippo Rinaldi,

to bust some moves in a gorilla suit.

to bust some moves in a gorilla suit.

"Occidentali's Karma" by Francesco Gabbani

"Occidentali's Karma" by Francesco Gabbani

Sadly, not enough to bring home the trophy.

Sadly, not enough to bring home the trophy.

I thought it was someone that had just stage-bombed,

I thought it was someone that had just stage-bombed,

I thought it was someone that had just stage-bombed,

I didn't realise that was actually part of the act.

I didn't realise that was actually part of the act.

It bore no relevance that I could see to the actual song,

It bore no relevance that I could see to the actual song,

It bore no relevance that I could see to the actual song,

but a brilliant way to pull focus if you hit a duff note.

but a brilliant way to pull focus if you hit a duff note.

I think it's like, who can be the weirdest?

I think it's like, who can be the weirdest?

Not wishing to be outdone, Dihaj from Azerbaijan followed with

Not wishing to be outdone, Dihaj from Azerbaijan followed with

Not wishing to be outdone, Dihaj from Azerbaijan followed with

a haunting, moody, electronica song, skeletons,

a haunting, moody, electronica song, skeletons,

and surprised us with more animal magic.

and surprised us with more animal magic.

"Skeletons" by Dihaj

"Skeletons" by Dihaj

OK...

I think it may be possible that he was trying to make some kind of

I think it may be possible that he was trying to make some kind of

existential statement on the state of the world,

existential statement on the state of the world,

or it might be possible that it seemed a good idea at the time.

or it might be possible that it seemed a good idea at the time.

He looked more like another part of a horse's anatomy.

He looked more like another part of a horse's anatomy.

I can't think offhand what is the weirdest thing I've ever seen

I can't think offhand what is the weirdest thing I've ever seen