Would our friends from Ireland please take the floor?

Admittedly, we only seem to exchange seven or eight points each year, rather than the Magic 12, but isn't it nice to know there's at least one country out there you can rely on to save you from a great big duck egg on the scoreboard?

It even happens in the Dance version, as Ireland gave the UK its highest score in last year's Contest, so let's be nice about this couple, Gavin O'Fearraigh and Dearbhla Lennon.

Gavin, who no doubt could gain a triple-first in Very Difficult Maths at Trinity College without even revising, as well as winning every series of Strictly Come Dancing in one go, is hoping to improve on Irish TV's impressive start to their Eurovision Dance Contest career.

You'll also be pleased to know that Ireland is NOT cheating at the Dance Contest either, Gavin is an actor during daylight hours, appearing in the Irish-language soap opera Ros na Run. Boom Bang a Blog is positive he could win an award for his work in the role.

Dearbhla Lennon (whose name is an anagram of Banned All Heron) is the multi-talented, worthy of a Miss World title, hard shoe expert who will whisk Gavin about the floor of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre next Saturday (September 6 on BBC One, dance fans...).

As is de rigeur for dancers of Irish stock, Dearbhla has appeared in both Lord of the Darnce and Riverdarnce, but is so talented, she blends her dancing career with that of a roving reporter on Irish TV's The Afternoon Show.

We wish them well. As long as we get a decent vote from Ireland.