It seems to come around with alarming regularity and, once again, some of Europe’s finest warblers are set to take to global music’s biggest stage.
It is Eurovision time once more, with Stockholm this year’s destination.
The 61st annual song contest will, for the first time ever, be broadcast in America as well as all over Europe.
A total of 26 countries are competing this year. The UK – together with France, Germany, Italy and Spain – directly qualify for the final round, a perhaps somewhat dubious “reward” for contributing the most money to the annual extravaganza.
There has, as dictated by tradition, been some controversy in the run-up to tonight’s event.
The German entry, pop star Xavier Naidoo, was denied participation after he was accused of holding extreme right-wing and homophobic beliefs. He was replaced by Jamie-Lee, who will perform a love song inspired by Japanese manga.
Meanwhile, Romania was expelled because it still owed 16 million Swiss francs to the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event.
Hopes of a UK victory tonight are not high, though Joe and Jake have promised to give it their all with the catchy “You’re Not Alone”.
Whether we are, in fact, alone at the bottom of the league table come 11.30 tonight remains to be seen.
