Eurovision Song Contest / Chicken Dinner / 15 May 2009 / 3

Chicken Dinner look ahead to the big night as favourites get the luck of the draw, Lloyd Webber falls for Turkish delight and Russian's make successive triumphs unlikely after racist outburst...

There were a few lessons learnt at the second Eurovision semi-final: dancing on stage in a gimp costume wins votes (Albania [170.00]) but singing about a shoe doesn't (Serbia). Ireland genuinely tried to qualify but still couldn't find their way through a dire field while the organisers left favourites Norway [2.3] and Greece [8.0], whose impressive show may overshadow the actual song, sweating by naming them as the last two qualifiers.

The fact that all five Scandinavian countries qualified (Denmark [210.00], Finland [100.00], Iceland [30.0], Norway and Sweden[90.0]) shows they have supporters throughout Europe. The only concern for Norway is that it could split Scandinavian votes, especially as the other acts are fairly strong - especially Yohanna for Iceland - and were well received by the live audience in the semi-finals. The last time all five nations qualified was last year and none made the top four, but the previous occasion was in 2000 when Denmark won.

Norway's position as favourite was strengthened by their final draw. Alexander Rybak will be sixth-last on stage and in six of the last eight years, including each of the last four, one of the final eight acts has triumphed. The UK ([15.0] to win, [3.9] for the top four] are also boosted by performing 23rd out of 25 - the last time they were one of the final three performers was in 1997 when Katrina and the Waves were victorious.

The only other leading contender drawn in the final eight was Turkey [13.0] and Andrew Lloyd Webber supposedly fancies Hadise both in appearance and as a threat. Oddly, a late draw might not suit them though as both their podium finishes (1997 and 2003) came when they were one of the first four singers. The major challengers left cursing their draws are Iceland, Greece, Azerbaijan [14.5] and Bosnia and Herzegovina [23.0]. All of them are among the first 12 acts on stage, of which only one made the top six in each of the last two years. Five of last year's top six came from the closing eight artists.

Russia [240.00] clearly dont want to retain. History was already against them as Ireland (1992-94) are the only country since 1980 to have won in consecutive years but just to be safe they have opted to enter a Ukrainian-born racist. Singer Anastasiya Prikhodko has been quoted as saying that she doesnt like black or Chinese people, while newspaper reports also claim she is a Hitler sympathiser.

France [28.0] have sent over one of their big stars - Patricia Kaas - but are probably destined for more failure. Last year their song Divine by Sebastien Tellier was very catchy - it has since been used to advertise Renault Meganes - but still only finished 18th. They havent made the top ten since 2002 and while having a marquee name should guarantee some improvement, they are hindered by an early draw performing third and the decision to sing in French, a former language of champions that hasnt won in 21 years.

Germany [190.00], who finished bottom in 2005 and joint-last last year, have entered another ear-bleeder but will hope that having Dita Von Teese appear on stage will save them from the wooden spoon.

The draw makes it hard to look past Norway as winners but there are still plenty of interesting bets to have. Spain ([170.00] to win) close the show and in four of the past five years the final act has made the top ten they are still available at [3.5] to do that. Malta ([60.0] to win) are just [7.6] to finish in the top four despite the fact singer Chiara has done it twice before and has a good song. Finally, even though Graham Norton isnt a fan, we love Moldova's entry ([280.00] to win, [5.6] top 10) and on the two previous occasions they have qualified, they have finished in the top 10.

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(3)

1. EVAKI88 | 16 May 2009

   sakis is the best

2. makis | 16 May 2009

   yes sakis is the best of the best!

3. MAKIS | 16 May 2009

   Sakis is the NO 1!!!!(12)POINTS FOR GREECE!

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