Recently in Eurovision Fans Category

Boom Bang a Bloggers, allow us to introduce Mister Danny Lynch.

Glasgow resident and fan of all things Eurovision, Danny has only gone and bagged himself a shiny new press pass for the goings on at the SECC, so he can report on-the-spot (especially for Boom Bang a Blog) about all the backstage gossip/rehearsals/snapped shoe straps.

Keep an eye out for his first report in the next few days.

He's been a busy, busy boy this past week, but before Chris Knight settles into his seat at the Beogradska Arena for tonight's Eurovision Song Contest, he has one more file to report. A quirkier Eurovision personality - and someone with a North West connection - stopped by for a chat, but we won't spoil the surprise.

Wherever you watch tonight's show, hope you enjoy it. I've just been cutting up the official BBc scorecard to make out sweepstake, Glyn is preparing punch - and wait until you see the photos of his trifle.

We'll be back later on - or tomorrow morning - with the results and the reaction from the Aigburth panel.

As these words are being writ, bloggers from across Europe are placed in strategic points about the Beogradska Arena reporting on the chances of the final 25 as they undertake their first dress rehearsal as a complete 'Contest'.

Unlike the Olympic 100m, World Cup, Crufts, Miss World and Britain's Got Talent, this is one event where even the hardiest experts struggle to predict the winner year on year.

In fact, Eurovision fans get so immersed in listening to the entries over and over in the months leading up to the big show, they're really quite rubbish at picking what the vast majority of viewers - listening to the songs once and once only - will plump for.

Chris Knight has put the personal upset of Andorra not qualifying behind him. Instead, he has channeled his energies into a chat with BBC Three semi final commentator Paddy O'Connell, whom you may have heard getting a bit agitated about whether Norway was in the final envelope or not during last night's coverage.

Read on to find out what Paddy thinks of Serbia's organisation of the Contest and if - surely not - this is Terry Wogan's last year behind the mic at a Eurovision final...

Day Four - Digesting and Cogitating

So, things in Belgrade are gearing up for the first semi-final tonight. I went to see the technical rehearsal yesterday afternoon and here are my thoughts on who's worth a punt and who isn't.

Day Two - Lose the Purple, Sir

So day two in Belgrade, which architecturally is a concrete lover's dream and here's the lowdown with what I've been up to these past 24 hours.

We went to the Ukrainian party last night where we were kindly offered free beer and bits of, what I think was, Ukrainian pizza! It was almost a mini-Eurovision in itself featuring performances from not only Ani Lorak, but also Russia (narcissistic), Armenia (bombastic), Malta (dynamic), Sweden (plastic), Bulgaria (energetic) and San Marino (fantastic).

I was asked to write a piece about being a Eurovision fan for the Day Six section of today's Liverpool Daily Post.

You can read it here.

Always grateful of any feedback. Thankfully, the online version spares you the sight of the spectacularly unattractive photo of me used in the paper itself.

There's only so much I can write about a Contest that's taking place hundreds of miles away from my desk at the Southport Visiter.

What Boom Bang a Blog really needs is someone on the scene, someone who can tell us how many sugars the old bloke from Croatia puts in his tea or how many fans haven't actually left the Belgrade Arena since rehearsals began.

What Boom Bang a Blog really needs is that man in that photo there; Chris Knight.

Chris, who has accreditation for this year's event, is now in Serbia and will be keeping us updated with all the gossip and atmosphere. Get in.

I'll stop typing now, so you can read what Chris has to say. Mr Knight, it's over to you.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of meeting senior media lecturer at Edge Hill University - and unabashed Eurovision fan - Phil Jackson. That's him in the picture, being lifted up all high by those people.

Phil is going to Serbia this weekend as an invited guest of the BBC - he'll get to go backstage and everything - to further his research into how the Contest can be linked up with lots of important cultural and political issues. You see, it's not all about mirror boxes and turkeys.

You can hear our chat by clicking on the link below all this blether. Don't worry, we talk about daft European pop music as well as the Eurovision-related academia.

If you enjoy that, there's more to come on the Boom Bang a Blogcast front.

Keep an ear out for reviews of both semi-finals in the coming days from Southport Visiter's Church News reporter (and Eurovision-disliking, touring singer/songwriter) John Siddle.