Is it time to drop Eurovision?

Galaxy

They are terrified of Israel doing well.

You clearly don't understand why these countries have pulled out.

Indeed AGAA. They don't wish to be in a competition with a country committing genocide and I hope we'll do the same.

Casdon has a good point. Some people enjoy it, the same way some people enjoy Question Time.

It would have been better for Eurovision to stay with countries within Europe. Now we have a situation where Europe is split over Israel.

I dont think taxpayers money should be spent on it. There is far too much money being spent on these vanity projects. Most of the songs are pretty awful.

I don’t watch either, but I’d say that it’s right the other end of the enjoyment spectrum - people watch it because they love the cheese, they dress up, have a bit of a party and enter into the spirit of it. I think it’s the only broadcast which goes out simultaneously to all the participating countries every year. It’s not the contest itself’s fault that it is marred by politics of one kind or another almost every year, there is nothing broadcast that isn’t. It’s up to each country to decide whether to participate this year now.

I think Israel should be refused entry, just as Russia was, but why do both countries take part anyway. Neither are European

It is like so many things, once the original spirit is lost, then it is time to introduce something new. We won't be watching any more as the programme should be in the name of music and not which country should or should not be in it because of whatever reason. That makes it political. They will never ever recapture the original spirit of 'European' from fifty years ago. Time to send it to Room 101.

The contest has been political for a long time with countries voting for their "friends" rather than the song.

I know many people still enjoy it even though they know the voting is skewed. They know who will get most votes from many of the countries.

AGAA4

Galaxy

They are terrified of Israel doing well.

You clearly don't understand why these countries have pulled out.

I think that Galaxy ( and me) understand very well.

GoodAfternoonTea

It is like so many things, once the original spirit is lost, then it is time to introduce something new. We won't be watching any more as the programme should be in the name of music and not which country should or should not be in it because of whatever reason. That makes it political. They will never ever recapture the original spirit of 'European' from fifty years ago. Time to send it to Room 101.

Very well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I agree with almost all that's written above.
I think it's had it's Day, it's not the fun that it was in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and that the UK and Ireland, the BBC and RTE, should withdraw for the foreseeable future.
Fans can probably watch it on other channels these days.

Yup - agree. Too political and most of the songs are absolutely awful now.

Israel should never have been in EUROvision nor should Australia surely the clue is in the name
I too haven’t watch for years and years always found it pretty boring at the best of times
Get rid of it asap

The politics of it is grim and the music even grimmer.....

Yes, emphatically.

It began in 1956 and should have been regarded as a one-off.

But it has laughably dragged on and on. It's a 1950's relic, by the Sixties it was well-established as a joke and now it's increasingly a political platform.

I bet Lulu looks back to her "Boom-Bang-a-Bang" days and secretly thinks "Why did I do it? Why?"

Yes.
It is rubbish.

I think it’s still very popular in most of Europe though. So I am told by AC who lives there.

TerriBull

It's very popular I gather, I haven't watched it for years, it all seems pointless now, given some countries vote strategically, and it's all too political which defeats the spirit of what should be a competition. Lately we always come more or less last, apart from the one memorable song by Sam Ryder a couple of years ago. Apart from Abba, what other artists have emerged from Eurovision with talent and longevity? Musically we have nothing to prove for a small country we have punched well above our weight. England after all gave the world The Beatles and The Rolling Stones amongst many other world class groups and artists.

Yes knock it on the head, it's had its day.

I agree TerriBull.

I just hold a different view. Frequently the public don't behave in the way you think they will. The public vote last year was interesting I think.

keepingquiet

It has really become a victim of its own success. I think the event has changed a lot over the years, so it could change again instead of scrapping it all together?

It has really become a victim of its own success
Yes, I think it's become a parody of itself.

I haven't really watched it since the lovely Terry Wogan presented it, with his unique style, gently sending it up.

Oreo so you believe four countries have pulled out because they are afraid Israel may win? Is that the only reason?

Eurovision still has a large following both here and abroad.

There are many things on TV that I do not like, I don’t want them banned, I just don’t watch, simples 🤷‍♀️

Probably the easiest way to avoid it is to not have a TV. You avoid both the license fee and Eurovision. Simples!

Don't care one way or the other. Like others I don't understand why any non-European countries are even allowed to participate - maybe it should be renamed and given new rule if it's to go on.

I haven't watched it since the days of Mary Hopkins and Sandie Shaw, and then only because it was on the TV when I was at home because others were watching it. It's difficult to avoid it entirely because the songs and performers turn up in unexpected places but I've yet to hear anything that would prompt me to watch it. I always found most of the songs and performances fairly cringeworthy to be honest.