Eurovision Betting 2011: Old faces abound as Europe gets busy

Eurovision Song Contest / Eliot Pollak / 18 April 2011 /

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Very persistent duo Jedward are having another tilt at the music industry via Eurovision

"Outside the big five and Dana, Ireland are always worth a punt. The Emerald Isle are the undoubted kings (or should that be queens) of Eurovision, having lifted the crown on seven occasions."

Germany will be wheeling out last year's winner Lena Meyer-Landrut while Britain has employed the 'talents' of ageing 'boy' band Blue, even Ireland are putting their faith in the star names with Jedward preparing to perform. But can the proven 'talent' land the Eurovision crown or will the glory go to a new name? Eliot Pollak has the lowdown

Ah, Europeans. What larks we have with them. If they're not running around ethnically cleansing each other, they're coming to us, cap-in-hand for our hard-earned shekels. I mean £4bn to Portugal. And what do we get in return? A quarter-final exit at the next World Cup I suspect.

You'd imagine the least old Johnny Foreigner could do would be to vote for us in some silly song contest. Well perhaps. And so to Dusseldorf, centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, and appropriately enough, scene of one of the great humiliations this country has ever seen, when the magnificent Marco van Basten tore our boys to shreds back in Euro 88. Tony Adams chasing MvB around like a small child however, will be nothing compared to the humiliation heading our way on May 14 at Eurovision. The band Blue, ladies and gentlemen, will be representing the mighty UK that evening. The country of the Beatles. The country of Oasis. The country of Right Said Fred!!!

So take it as read that we won't win the darn thing - but that doesn't mean you don't all want to know who the devil will, does it? Doesn't it? Help me here.

The years 2001-2008 saw virgin winners (primarily from Eastern Europe), amidst allegations that the whole competition was becoming too political, in a furore that got so serious that even Sir Terrence of Wogan quit the show in disgust. Yet Russia won in '09, and following changes to the voting system last year, that in true European style made the entire system far less transparent, one of the 'big five' once more swept to the title in 2010.

Out of the big boys, the French are an early favourite in the betting, although watch out for the Italians, who compete for the first time since 1997.

It has been 17 years since a nation retained the Eurovision crown, but last year's winner, Lena Meyer-Landrut from Hannover, is back for more. She is priced at [15.5], but if value is your sort of thing, cast a cheeky gaze at a previous winner. That's right kids, as if Israel's international reputation needed more of a battering, lady-man-thing combo Dana International is back. Can the 1998 Champion defy her/his/its [230.0] price, to bring home the bacon. Although perhaps not back to Israel.

Outside the big five and Dana, Ireland are always worth a punt. The Emerald Isle are the undoubted kings (or should that be queens) of Eurovision, having lifted the crown on seven occasions. Count them out however this year, because they are being represented by Jedward.

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