Eurovision shouldn’t have been in the UK

Oh please - we are still part of Europe, us not being in the EU has not changed our geography. So why on earth should we not still be taking part in Eurovision? Countries like Israel are included as well, its not exclusively European either. I think that was just a slightly unfortunately remark by Zelensky - he has a lot on his plate at the moment and I doubt Eurovision is top of his list of issues. Yes it might have been nice to have it in, say, Poland but they did not offer - in fact I do not recall any other country offering to host other than the UK. Plus we came second so it was the logical choice - and we have plenty of Ukrainians here at the moment, a good number of whom will be there watching tonight.

Frankly its not really my cup of tea - I only tuned in for the voting last year out of morbid curiousity, given our neighbours' habit of giving us nil points. I don't discount the fact we had a decent song for once, but I also believe we got so many points because of our massive support for Ukraine, leading the world alongside the USA in the response to the war. Oh and Zelensky cannot speak because Eurovision is not political - don't make me laugh, it is totally political as can be seen in the voting every single year. We all know who will win tonight of course.

grandtanteJE65

I would be even more radical than President Zelinsky and ask why the UK is still taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest?

You have rammed down our throats that you do not consider yourselves, or want to be part of Europe, so why take part in Europe's Song contest?

As to Zelinsky, his point is perfectly valid, and if you are offended by his making it, well and good, but quite frankly the man has far more serious problems on his mind than the Eurovision Song Contest and whether the British public in general is offended or Liverpool in particular.

What a horrible post.
I have no objection to Zelensky’s comments. He had indeed more to worry about than the Eurovision Song Contest, but I see no need for your post having a go at Britain. If you don’t think we should take part as we’re no longer part of the EU perhaps you’d like to cast your net wider and ask why Australia, Ukraine, Moldova, and a number of other countries take part even though they are not members of the EU. Last time I looked, the UK was in Europe. It hasn’t moved, it’s still there. So please stop with the Britain hatred.

JdotJ

Forsythia

He doesn’t complain when we give him money though does he. Perhaps Liverpool would rather have saved the expense of this. Some gratitude from him, for once, wouldn’t go amiss.

Nor has he complained when we've opened our doors to his 'people' and welcomed them. Funny that !

I was talking to a Ukrainian lady last week, she has left her husband and sons behind to fight for Ukraine’s freedom.

She felt guilty that she had a safe place to live, a job and new friends, she said that she and her fellow citizens would be eternally grateful to the government and people of the U.K.

Mollygo

GrannyGravy13

Treat The Eurovision Song Contest as you would any other TV programme, if it’s not your thing do not watch it.

It obviously brings pleasure to a great many folks in many Countries.

Exactly my views on the Coronation spectacular.

All televisions and devices have an off switch, nobody is forced to watch anything they do not want.

I have a live and let live attitude to day-to-day life it is a lot less stressful.

Forsythia

He doesn’t complain when we give him money though does he. Perhaps Liverpool would rather have saved the expense of this. Some gratitude from him, for once, wouldn’t go amiss.

Nor has he complained when we've opened our doors to his 'people' and welcomed them. Funny that !

GrannyGravy13

Treat The Eurovision Song Contest as you would any other TV programme, if it’s not your thing do not watch it.

It obviously brings pleasure to a great many folks in many Countries.

Exactly my views on the Coronation spectacular.

Treat The Eurovision Song Contest as you would any other TV programme, if it’s not your thing do not watch it.

It obviously brings pleasure to a great many folks in many Countries, I hope they enjoy this evening.

So far what I have seen/heard well done Liverpool 👏👏👏

Sorry if I offend anyone who enjoys the Eurovision, but to be honest I'm sick of it being forced fed to us. I can never understand how there's money for this whilst more important things go without. Roll on Sunday.

Bella23

Callistemon21

nanna8

It’s so unfair and political it just isn’t worth watching now.

Australia might win .....

Has there been a lot of Continental drift lately I thought Australia as a land mass was moving towards India not Europe.

Good one Bella...

Callistemon21

nanna8

It’s so unfair and political it just isn’t worth watching now.

Australia might win .....

Has there been a lot of Continental drift lately I thought Australia as a land mass was moving towards India not Europe.

Spot on forsythia, i agree 100%.

I was under the impression we were the biggest payers for the contest anyway, wherever it happened to be held? At least Liverpool will benefit this time.
I'm guessing Zelensky has an interest in this sort of thing from his previous job, so maybe not meddling as such.

There's an Off switch on my telly
Not everyone has that mod con luxury.

Oh, it's a bit of harmless fun, and easily avoided if you're not a lover of camp old nonsense .

A lot of people may not agree with you.

Eurovision shouldve been smothered at its inception…. so let’s do it now !! It’s ghastly!!

Iam64

lemsip

irritated by his tactless comment
...............

I think President Zelensky can be forgiven for any tactlessness given the pressure he is under.

Yes I agree. Also I don’t see it as tactless really. It would have been good to hold it in one of the bordering countries

I suppose it was because we came second and the winning country usually hosts it!
No other reason.

There will be a large Ukrainian contingent there anyway.

And of course last year's winners:
Ukraine

It was not the UK's decision not to allow President Zelensky to address the contest, it was that of the organisers and they said, quite rightly, that this contest is nothing to do with politics.
To do so might have set a precedent.

grandtanteJE65

I would be even more radical than President Zelinsky and ask why the UK is still taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest?

You have rammed down our throats that you do not consider yourselves, or want to be part of Europe, so why take part in Europe's Song contest?

As to Zelinsky, his point is perfectly valid, and if you are offended by his making it, well and good, but quite frankly the man has far more serious problems on his mind than the Eurovision Song Contest and whether the British public in general is offended or Liverpool in particular.

It's not the EU Song Contest.

We are still part of Europe.
The Eurovision Song Contest is older than the European Union and has nothing to do with it, it is not political.

If you're going to query (rather rudely) why the UK is still participating in the Eurovision Song Contest then why not ask why Israel, Australia, Armenia, Morroco, Azerbaijan and Russia (although I know Russia is not competing at the moment) are contestants?
Other countries competed in the competition before joining the EU.

grandtanteJE65, I’d happily not take part ANY year, but the point about Europe is really a joke. Australia or Morocco aren’t in Europe last time I heard, so countries outside Europe can compete.
Participation in the contest is primarily open to all broadcasters with active EBU membership. To become an active member of the EBU, a broadcaster has to be from a country which is covered by the European Broadcasting Area or a member state of the Council of Europe.[1] Eligibility to participate is not determined by geographic inclusion within the continent of Europe, despite the "Euro" in "Eurovision", nor does it have a direct connection with the European Union.
It was fun when the best song got the most votes, whether the UK or wherever. It stopped being fun, when all the countries in a certain bloc voted for each other, regardless of the quality of the song.
It suddenly became like paying to enter a race where you have no chance of winning because everyone else has four legs and you only have two.
I wondered if we came second last year, because we might be soft enough to foot the bill for this year. I didn’t notice all the other countries leaping into take it on. (Apologies if some did and I didn’t notice.)

grandtantJE65
I have no beef with Europe, I love Europe. I’ve visited every country.
What I have problem with, is, the Brussels gravy train.

Gillycats is correct.
It was our win really. Ukrainians had it on the sympathy vote as I understood it as much as anything.

I was in Liverpool at the Eurovision village which has a separate Ukrainian village ...the Ukraine was represented in abundance...well done liverpool ..proud of my home city ❤️🇺🇦🇬🇧

I would be even more radical than President Zelinsky and ask why the UK is still taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest?

You have rammed down our throats that you do not consider yourselves, or want to be part of Europe, so why take part in Europe's Song contest?

As to Zelinsky, his point is perfectly valid, and if you are offended by his making it, well and good, but quite frankly the man has far more serious problems on his mind than the Eurovision Song Contest and whether the British public in general is offended or Liverpool in particular.

lemsip

*irritated by his tactless comment*
...............

I think President Zelensky can be forgiven for any tactlessness given the pressure he is under.

Yes I agree. Also I don’t see it as tactless really. It would have been good to hold it in one of the bordering countries