And the next cab off the Eurovision rank...

By Jamie McLoughlin on Sep 12, 08 09:54 AM

Right, that's dancing sorted. Surely there can't be another Eurovision coming our way this year?

What? With the money the various TV companies of Europe make from your phone votes? Of course there is!

This time, it's the kids who are having a go. Heaven help us all.

The sixth Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) takes place in Lemesos, Cyprus, on Saturday, November 22.

As the BBC never had any interest in taking part in this Minipops version of the main event, ITV despatched some kiddywinks to sing for Royaume Uni in the first three years of the event.

In a rarity for Britain at 21st Century Eurovision, our kids did good - we took bronze at the inaugural JESC in Copenhagen in 2003, then silver the following year in Norway.

But our 2005 entry languished near the bottom of the scoreboard as a growing number of Eastern European entrants took a stranglehold of the results (Belarus - which has only got through one Eurovision Song Contest semi final in five attempts - has won Junior Eurovision twice, forming the bread which sandwiches Russia's 2006 victory), so ITV stopped bothering early on. The fact that nobody in the UK was remotely interested in tuning in for the event wasn't too encouraging, either.

Therefore, the Union flag won't be flying in Cyprus, but these are the 16 nations who are taking part:

Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; FYR Macedonia; Georgia; Greece; Lithuania; Malta; Netherlands; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Ukraine

It would be a brave soul who put a bet on a Western European victory at this juncture.

As Junior Eurovision isn't even broadcast in Blighty, Boom Bang a Blog appreciates that UK-based readers may struggle to muster any enthusiasm for it.

However, if you are stuck for a date on Novermber 22, you anticipate trying to put off insulating the loft with your free fuel-efficient gift from Mr Brown, or you enjoy hiding in cupboards with a laptop - you will be able to view JESC online.

To help your anticipation blossom, here are some of the tunes which have taken the title in the first five years of the event.

Here's Maria Isabel winning for Spain in 2004.

Russia's answer to two thirds of the Beverley Sisters taking the title in 2006.

And the very first winner, Dino from Croatia, in 2003. It was number two in the running order. These kids pay no heed to the hoo-doos cursing the grown up Song Contest.