Last weekend marked the finale of the annual extravaganza of Europop and European spirit called Eurovision. In it, countries put their best musical foot forward to beat the rest of Europe for Eurovision glory. The winner has to host the next year's event. A bit of a financially poisoned chalice of sorts.

The UK was holding out for a hero - but in the event Bonnie Tyler was totally eclipsed by bookies' favourite Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest to...

The annual celebration of all that is kitsch, camp and quirky in European music comes to our screens this Saturday at 8pm BST, from Malmö, Sweden. We've watched both semi-finals and as many rehearsals as we can to give you a taster of what to look out for (and when to take a loo/fag/cuppa break).

Silly pop songs, over-the-top costumes and dance routines, and a (possibly) fake sense of intra-European bonhomie. Yes, it's easy to dismiss the annual Eurovision song contest. But wait. This year might be a little bit different. Eurovision might actually get political - and not just political in the usual sense that neighbouring countries vote for one another in a show of regional support... What better time to demand equal rights than when you have the eyes of much of Europe on you?

So here we are: I'm going to be flying the flag for the United Kingdom at the 58th Eurovision Song Contest this year in Malmo, Sweden. And what's more - I am completely honoured to do it! I have to be honest, I wasn't sure at first - but then it suddenly dawned on me that this is an incredible thing. It's an amazing opportunity to represent your country for doing something you love. In actual fact my husband Robert had represented the UK in the Olympic Games at judo in 1972. So we are two halves of a couple who have both done something for their country. Now that can't be bad!

There's something peculiar about the UK's relationship with Europe. It's like an arranged marriage - seems a good idea on paper (interests aligned, status consolidated, families united). But then you get to know them. And sometimes love doesn't grow like they all said it would.

Bonnie Tyler, this year's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest, has revealed that she turned down the BBC's offer sing for the UK - three decades a...

Spike Milligan, Monty Python, even The Beatles are bastions of absurdity and surrealism the world over, so why do we insist on putting our dullest, most mundane foot forward for the one night of the year when these traits are held above all others?

It's been confirmed that 80s power ballad crooner Bonnie Tyler will represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The 61-year-old 'Total...

Fur is flying between Jade Ewen and Rita Ora. The Sugababe has hit back at the 'RIP' singer after she slagged off her Eurovision efforts in a thin...

She might be all urban and street these days but Rita Ora hasn't always been quite so cool - she once almost ended up representing the UK in the Eurov...

Andrew Lloyd Webber has blamed the UK's poor record at the Eurovision Song Contest on racism. The star, 64, spoke out after a string of disappointm...

Eurovision - political? It's time to change the record. Preferably to one written by a Swede.