Introduction
Hello United Kingdom, this is Kiev calling... at least it will be
in May when the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 celebrates
its 50th anniversary.
But before we get there, the nation needs to choose a song with plenty
of boom bang a bang to bring home the coveted trophy.
Yes, it's time to unfurl the Union Jack with a cry of "nul points
never again" and cast your vote when Making Your Mind Up
makes its triumphant return to 91Èȱ¬ ONE on Saturday 5 March.
After months of speculation, the 91Èȱ¬ is delighted to announce the
following acts set to compete for the chance to represent the UK on
Saturday 21 May.
Solo star Andy Scott Lee will be taking to the stage,
alongside our 1996 Eurovision entrant Gina G who begins
her campaign to conquer Europe and lay some ghosts to rest.
Stepping up the battle of the babes, pop sensation Javine
throws her hat into the ring alongside Katie Price,
who marks the start of her music career.
And last, but by no means least, the three tenors Tricolore
add their name to the list of hopefuls all bidding for your vote on
the night.
Natasha Kaplinsky joins Eurovision aficionado Terry
Wogan to introduce the five artists to the British public.
The duo will be on hand throughout the evening to provide an overview
for the audience and remind them of past winners whilst reliving some
classic moments from 49 years of the competition.
If you're still struggling and need to arm yourself with more information,
our Celebrity Panel take a look at what makes a Euro-winner, what's
hot and what's not in Kiev this year, as well as taking a cheeky look
at the songs already selected by our Euro neighbours.
If there is a pattern emerging, our top panel will spot it.
Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up culminates in a Results Show
later in the evening.
The scoring mirrors the traditional process by which points are allocated
at Eurovision and seven celebrity spokespeople will announce their region's
vote via video links to the studio.
And, for the first time ever, a simultaneous web cast will add a truly
global feel to the event as web viewers from Stockholm to Sydney get
their chance to vote via the official website bbc.co.uk/eurovision:
will their tastes give us a clue about the vital vote in May?
There will also be a phone and text vote with all profits from calls
going to Comic Relief.
Once again, the combined SMS/Interactive result for each act will be
grouped together and provided as a percentage share of their total vote,
which means nothing is certain until the proverbial fat lady has sung.
The show will end with the presentation of the Eurovision: Making
Your Mind Up trophy and the winning act performing the song that will
hopefully bring Eurovision glory to the UK once again.
Over the following three months, the winner will have their song commercially
released whilst preparing for the once-in-a lifetime experience performing
to more than 200 million viewers across the globe at the 50th Eurovision
Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine on Saturday 21 May.
So many countries want to be a part of the Eurovision family - a record-breaking
40! - that once again in 2005 viewers will have the double delight of
a Eurovision Semi-Final to be transmitted on 91Èȱ¬ THREE on Thursday 19
May.
Last year more than 9.8 million viewers watched Making Your Mind Up
on 91Èȱ¬ ONE as Welsh singer James Fox won with a convincing 45% of the
total votes cast.
And ok, so we didn't win last year, but at least he hit all the right
notes and got points on the board.
However, did you think he was the wrong choice?
If so, there is only one way to make sure the act of your choice goes
to the Ukraine in May, and that's to vote.
With a worldwide web vote, the phone or SMS, there's really no excuse
not to get involved.
United Kingdom, it's time once again for Making Your Mind Up!
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