Recently in Eurovision 2008 Category

Long-term readers of Boom Bang a Blog will remember Chris Knight, who filed some rather good reports and interviews from Belgrade in the run up to last year's Eurovision.

As well as liking song contests, Chris is also dead keen on the great outdoors and BBaB is happy to report that the group Mr Knight is a leading member of, Outdoor Lads, won the Best Float trophy in the parade at this year's Pride, held in Manchester over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Chris is in the safari suit colours in the middle of this photo. Well done to him and all the other Outdoor Lads. You can find out a bit more about the group, an outdoor pursuits group that's just for the boys, here.

Boom Bang a Blog was also at Pride this year. Tragically, I didn't have a float from which I could proudly wave a 12ftx12ft placard of John Siddle standing next to Alexander Rybak while dressed as Katie Boyle, although I did see the woman who plays Lilian in Shameless having a chat with Anthony Crank on the big stage - and danced to Bucks Fizz after too many shandies.

So, a fairly successful day all round, then.

Recognise this?

You will do if you've seen the new ads for the Renault Megane in the breaks for Corrie and The X-Factor.

It's Sebastien Tellier with Divine, this year's French entry. It only finished 19th in Belgrade, but it seems to have pricked a fair few more ears up than the winning ditty did.

...except in Georgia, as three kids in yellow and black striped outfits (with a collective age that is less than this current blogger's) have just taken the 2008 Junior Eurovision Song Contest title in Cyprus. The song is called Bzzz...

For some reason, the show was presented by a pair of Londoners, but despite all the dreadful, dreadful music - even by Eurovision standards - there was a very poignant moment when the girl reading out the Russian scores gave the 12 to Georgia with a genuinely cheery smile. Sometimes, dagnammit, those kids can teach us a thing or two. The Georgians didn't return the favour.

Georgia has pulled out of the 2009 Contest in Moscow due to the political events earlier this year.

Some cynics are already suggesting this pint-sized victory is a rather convenient, sugar-coated way of enticing them back...

Tomorrow is the sixth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest - and just when you thought the adults had the sole stake on rehearsal week drama and strops, wait until you hear about the kids.

In what could be a worrying too-much-lemonade-and-ice-cream scenario, the entrant for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (and on of the favourites to win) was taken to hospital on Wednesday and could only manage two of his four alloted rehearsal slots.

You can have a shufty at his song in this blogbit, along with the remaining two songs in the 15-strong line-up, beginning with:

SONG THIRTEEN
Lithuania
Laiminga Diena performed by Egle Jurgaityte

Bless you for your loyalty in the run up to Fun-Sized Eurovision on Saturday. The first of today's four entries is from Serbia, this year's hosts of the other singing contest.

SONG 9
Serbia
Uvek Kad U Nebo Pogledam performed by Maja Mazic

There's more this way.

Boom Bang a Blog has been absolutely inundated with no requests to see more previews of the songs taking part in this year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Cyprus on Saturday.

So, we'll keep going with the song from the host country's friendliest neighbour.

SONG FIVE
Greece
Kapoia Nychta performed by Niki Yiannouchu

There's three more to experience if you click on the bit marked 'Continue Reading'. I know, I know... we're just too kind to you.

Saturday sees the sixth running of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, live from Lemesos, Cyprus.

There is minimal interest in this Minipops version of the main event in Western Europe, although the host nation, Belgium, The Netherlands and Malta are doing their bit in Cyprus to stem the tide of Eastern European bloc voting on behalf of the Eurovision old school. We don't fancy their chances.

Over the next four days, we'll preview the 15 acts clamouring (but not running with scissors) towards the prize. Of course, one day, there will be one act who winds up winning both Junior and Grown-Up Eurovisions. A bit like Roger Federer winning the Australian and French Open five years apart.

If you can bear it, have a click to preview the entries from Romania, Armenia, Belarus and Russia.

As you may (or may not) know, Boom Bang a Blog HQ is not that far from Liverpool. The city is aquiver with anticipation today as it gears up to host the MTV European Music Awards at its spanking new ECHO Arena with stars like Beyonce, Bono, and perhaps even Val Doonican, turning up to be seen on the red carpet.

Only ticket holders are allowed near the venue itself (we don't have one), but it would be super fun to go along and boo this year's winner, Dima Bilan (named as Best Russian Act) for inflicting almost the dullest Eurovision victory-scooping song in history on we poor viewers as he strutted in to the ceremony.

As you are no doubt aware, the Echo Arena in Liverpool hosts the MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday, November 6 - but what does all that trendy music which young people listen to in their bedrooms have to do with the Song Contest?

We'd ask those two people in the photograph, but to be frank, we don't know who they are and we're not entirely sure they'd know anyway.

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.