2008

Eurovision stars Donna and Joseph McCaul are participating in Ireland's newest reality TV show "Failte Towers".

The Westmeath duo participated in Eurovision 2005 with their pop number "Love?" penned by Karl Broderick. It finished in 14th place in the semi final in Kyiv, with the duet failing to qualify from the semi final.

Roman Iagupov, Valeriu Mazilu, Mihai Gîncu, Victor Dandeş, Anatol Pugaci and Sergiu Vatavu, members of the moldovan band Zdob si Zdub have been injured in a serious car crash in the night between Friday and Saturday in Chişinău, Moldova, while they were heading to start their European tour in Kiev, Ukraine.
The band's minibus was hit by a Volkswagen Sharan whose driver was highly drunk (so was the woman that was travelling with him).

10 yrs old Madalina Lefter from Iasi and 11 yrs old Andrada Popa from Bucharest will represent Romania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Limassol , Cyprus on November the 22nd.
The girls have just won the Romanian jESC NF minutes ago with the song "Salvati Planeta" (Save the Planet).
They came first in the jury votes (President of the Jury was Luminita Anghel - ESC Romania 2005) and second in the televote.
Georgia Dascalu was the winner of the public with 834 votes and came second in the jury votes.

Tonight Ireland decides its participants for the Eurovision Dance Contest

The participants are:
Dearbhla Lennon and Gavin O’Fearraigh
Sarah Ginnety and Killian O'Sullivan
Danilo Forte and Lisa Murphy
Kelly Smith and Richard Rock

The winners of the National Final and representing Ireland in Glasgow 2008 are Dearbhla Lennon and Gavin O'Fearraigh. They won with their fusion of Irish traditional and Latin dancing. Good luck to the duo in Glasgow!

Romania was the 8th country to cast its votes last night at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
This is how the Romanians voted :

Croatia - Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca - 1 point
Azerbaidjan - Elnur & Samir - Day After Day - 2 points
Ukraine - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - 3 points
Armenia - Sirusho - Qele Qele - 4 points
Norway - Maria - Hold On Be Strong - 5 points
Israel - Boaz - The Fire In Your Eyes - 6 points
Serbia - Jelena Tomaševic - Oro - 7 points
Turkey - Mor ve Ötesi - Deli - 08 points
Russia - Dima Bilan - Believe - 10 points

Russian pop star Dima Bilan, who was joined on stage by Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton and the ice-skating champion Evgeny Plushenko, got the victory in the annual song contest. The song, produced by US R&B star Timbaland, picked up 272 points from viewers from 42 countries.

Here are the Final results of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest:

1. Russia - Dima Bilan - "Believe" (272 points)
2. Ukraine - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady (230 points)
3. Greece - Kalomoira - Secret Combination (218 points)
4. Armenia - Sirusho - Qele Qele (199 points)

Congratulations to the 10 winners and comiserations to the 9 non qualifiers tonight.
We have our full line up for Saturdays final now and the draw is ready to be made.

Ukraine - 18
Croatia - 9

Last night, an old familiar face revealed a new look trophy for Eurovision 2008.

Lys Assia, the very first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 with her song Refrain was in Belgrade to unveil the new trophy. Assia (84) told journalists the contest "had changed a lot" since she took part all those years ago.

Well done to all 10 qualifiers including Nico and Vlad!!! Good performances all round in the arena in Belgrade tonight.

The draw took place for the final last night:
Greece - 21
Romania - 1

Talent, professionalism, sincerity, sensibility, courage, responsibility ... Paula Seling.
There are people that believe that, up above the world, there is a single Paradise for all of us.