Wo-gone

By Jamie McLoughlin on Dec 5, 08 08:30 AM

Will our lives ever be the same?

During his Radio 2 breakfast show today (Friday), even Sir Tel himself was surprised at how much media coverage his departure from the Eurovision commentary box has received - especially when you consider there's economic climes and kidnap cases vying for the headlines.

But it is now official - Terry is toddling off (as he said more than once this morning: "Only the river runs forever") and his replacement is confirmed as another Irish ambassador - Graham Norton, who will also present the search for the 2009 UK entrant.

Although I am a die-hard fan of the Contest, unlike a lot of fans, I am genuinely sad to see Terry leave. For all his leg-pulling and whimsy on the big night, it was pretty obvious he cares a lot about the event and genuinely wants to see a good result for Britain when he thinks we deserve it. The idea of having someone who takes the show too seriously providing the BBC commentary just doesn't bear thinking about.

I know some chums of mine would prefer a more reverential tone to the UK feed, but it would drive about 98 per cent of the viewing public to either whatever's on ITV or the nearest (strongest) bottle of booze.

Terry first did radio commentary for the BBC in 1971, when Dana's All Kinds of Everything had brought the competition to the microscopic (by 2008 standards) Eurovision venue of Dublin's teeny-tiny Gaiety Theatre. Presumably, he had to do his chat from a BBC van in the car park as even the hostess was relegated to the VIP box for scoreboard duty.

That was 37 years ago and since then, Terry's had a lot to put up with.

Luxembourg 1973: Terry's first TV commentary. The threat from the terrorist group Black September disrupting the live broadcast meant nobody was allowed to stand up to applaud in the auditorium - or security forces would have been obliged to shoot them.

Brighton 1974: The year of ABBA. When Terry got his turn to interview the victorious quartet, a BBC technician thought everyone was done for the evening and switched the power off, plunging Tel (and Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid) in the dark. It is not recorded what happened next between one surprised Irishman and four excitable post-victory Scandinavians.

Gothenburg 1985: Hardcore fans may have failed to scupper Terry from turning up at the Contest, but this was the year the common cold triumphed where so many hadn't. Our hero couldn't fly out to Sweden to do his commentary on medical advice, so did it from Shepherd's Bush instead.

Birmingham 1998: Terry gets to host the show - as well as commentate - following Katrina and the Waves' 1997 win. Won by Israeli transexual Dana International, the seasoned pro had to fill about three minutes of dead air when the winner decided to nip back to her dressing room and change into a different frock, designed by John Paul Gaultier, before reprising voters' favourite Diva.

Copenhagen 2001: Terry (quite rightly) mocks the choice by Danish telly to have the presenters speak in rhyming couplets all night. Reports indicate he is no longer welcome in Denmark.

Belgrade 2008: Irish entrant - and puppet - Dustin the Turkey namechecks Sir Wogan (and his wig) in the song Irlande Douze Points, but fails to proceed past the semi-final stage.

We have to include an example of Tel at work in today's blogbit. So, here he is, waiting for Ms International to get a move on.

Sir Tel. It's been a privilege. Boom Bang a Blog salutes you and we have absolutely no qualms in including today's entry - and yourself - in our 'Eurovision Classics' category.