Those of us who want a real contest should avoid reading the "Flying the Flag" book by Andy Roberts, "celebrating" the BBC's 50 years in Eurovision. In it he interviews a couple of BBC executive tw*ts who confirm they see the ESC as a cheap way of filling the schedules (incidentally confirming the fact most of us know that the direct cost of our participation in the contest is negligable) and that the BBC won't throw any money at it for that reason - and that the budget is being cut by 5% annually is mentioned at one point. Completely demoralising. It's about time the BBC were made aware of just how they embarrass the country with their woeful attitude.
Actually, I don't know why the BBC don't save the whole selection budget, and ask S4C if the winner of the "Can I Gymru" contest in March can represent us. OK it'll be in Welsh, but it'll get such huge attention for that reason, and possibly get the backing of the Welsh language record industry for promotion, it could save the BBC the