Eurovision 1963: Denmark win, the Swiss are suspicious - and an entrant who would go on to sing with Blur

We'll return to the voting brou-hah-ha momentarily, but here are your 1963 facts.

(a) Many of the acts competing in London were fledgling performers who went on to such bigger and better things that very few people remember they took part in Eurovision. Nana Mouskouri was by far the best known of these. The Greek-born vocalist couldn't sing for her homeland as they weren't entering at this stage, so she sang for Luxembourg instead, looking not unlike a young Mrs Merton. She came eighth.

Finishing in fifth place for Monaco was the sultry gorgeousness of the now legendary Francoise Hardy. Thirty-two years before she married her smoky tones with the estuary vocals of Blur's Damon Albarn on an alternative version of Parklife's brilliant To The End, she sang L'Amour S'En Va. A surprisingly up-to-date number for the Contest in this era - that's probably why it didn't do very well with those darned un-hip juries.

And destined to be the most upset singer of the night, Swiss representative Ester Ofarim. Five years later, alongside husband Abi, she would be atop the world's charts with the rather quirky Cinderella Rockafella, but in March 1963 the Israeli-born singer was runner-up in the Eurovision Song Contest with the ever so moody T'en Va Pas.

(b) The UK was represented for the second year running by Ronnie Carroll. He also finished fourth for the second year running. The song was Say Wonderful Things, the first performed of the night - and those backing singers do look like they're miming. Which is very naughty and against the rules.

Ronnie never returned to Eurovision, but he did stand as an independent candidate in the 1997 General Election. He didn't win. Presumably, he came fourth in the polls.

(c) And we have to mention Italy - who finished third - for showing us what Facebook looked like 46 years ago. Once again, the Italian entry went on to be by far the biggest hit of all the songs taking part.

(d) But what about this controversial vote? As the scoring progressed, Katie Boyle called Oslo from her Bacofoil-plastered studio and the audience and viewers very clearly heard the results from the spokesperson. However, Katie then announced she would have to return to Norway at the end of the voting sequence for a reason that was never specified and the original scores from Oslo stayed up on the board.

At the end of the voting, Switzerland had effectively won with 42 points while Denmark was in second place with 40. Then Katie called Norway back in to repeat its scores.

This time around, Norway gave its neighbour Demark two points more than it had announced previously - and two points fewer to Switzerland. The two countries at the top of the scoreboard switched places before the viewers' eyes and Katie announced this new result as the official one. But why? How?

Over the years, the explanation given for this was that Norway had misread the rulebook and had too many people in its jury. This was only realised at the last minute so that jury had to be downsized and the votes from the remaining members recounted. However, the very public about-turn on its scores, giving its Nordic chum first place in the process - has always been a Eurovisiony hot potato. Especially in Switzerland - the only country ever to have been shown as winners on the scoreboard but then had the glory cruelly snatched away.

It's a good job they're neutral.