UK qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest

[nicolab6]

Have the UK ever needed to qualify - I don't think so, but my husband begs to differ...

[princessbeth]

the uk have never needed 2 qualify for eurovision because we put so much money to it. its a gud job really coz wiv the terrible songs we put thru we wud never qualify

[THECORBYLOON]

We didn't compete in the first year,1955 but we've been in it every year since 1956.

There are twenty-four countries allowed to compete and as there are more than that wanting to cyake part, there is a qualifying contest a few days before the Final. The previous year's top ten qualify automaically plus the ones that finish in the top ten in the qualifying contest.

Since 2004 four countries, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom qualify automatically because they contribute so much dosh to the European Broadcasting Union which runs the contest

[Bird Legs]

As a matter of interest, has Italy ever been in and why aren`t they in it now?

[THECORBYLOON]

Soz but I got the year of the first contest wrong, it was 1956 and the UK entered the following year.

Italy took part every year til 1980 and then they missed 1981, '82, �81,�82,�86,.�94,�95 and �96.

They competed in 1997 but have been absent since then and on the Eurovision website it says it's nott known if they intend taking part again.

[james412]

That's right. Italy - 37 entries, 2 wins.

http://www.eurovision.tv/content/view/538/1/

I see Palestine hopes to take part next year. Apparently it's popular there.