Is it time to drop Eurovision?

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

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.

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.

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

Yes.
It is rubbish.

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?"

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

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

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

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.

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 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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

Galaxy

They are terrified of Israel doing well.

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

I'd like to see it begin again and keep it smaller. It's got too big and unwieldy.
And the voting is ridiculous.

Why are countries like Israel and Russia allowed to compete when they’re not even in Europe?

yes , it's well past it's watch by date, I haven't watched it for years.