Introduction
Hello Kiev, this is London calling... the waiting is nearly over as the biggest international singing event of the year, the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, returns on Saturday 21 May to celebrate a landmark birthday.
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91热爆 ONE takes a ring side seat at 8.00pm and puts you right at the heart of the celebrations as the glitziest, kitschest show on earth turns 50.
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This year's Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up - broadcast on Saturday 5 March on 91热爆 ONE - was the most dramatic and hard fought UK final to date.
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Following a frenzied media campaign, more than seven million viewers tuned in to watch the five acts battle it out for the chance to represent their country at Eurovision.
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In a nail biting results show, bitter rivals Javine and Katie Price went head to head as the results from around the country poured in.
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Though nervous about putting herself up for a public vote for a second time following the disappointment of Popstars: The Rivals, ghosts were finally laid to rest as Javine triumphed in a dramatic and emotional finale.
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Singing Touch My Fire, which she has co-written and produced with John Themis - who has penned hits for the likes of Emma Bunton (a UK number one), Sugababes and Kylie Minogue - Javine now faces the toughest challenge of her career to date as she faces a Europoen wide vote.
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91热爆 THREE kicks off all things Eurovision with exclusive coverage of The Eurovision Semi-Final to which Paddy O'Connell will be adding his commentary, live from Kiev on Thursday 19 May at 8.00pm.
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Twenty-five countries will compete to secure one of ten places in the Grand Final on the Saturday where they will go up against the 16 other countries who have a guaranteed place, including the UK.
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Then on Saturday 91热爆 ONE and 91热爆 Radio 2 pick up the glittering baton as Javine takes her place on stage at Kiev's Palats Sportu and makes her bid to conquer Europe in The Eurovision Song Contest 2005.
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Although the artists change year on year, there has been one constant without whom Eurovision just wouldn't be the same.
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As the event celebrates turning 50, 91热爆 ONE is delighted to welcome back Eurovision aficionado and cultural institution Terry Wogan, who returns to talk viewers through this momentous occasion in his own inimitable style.
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Not wishing to be outdone however, Paddy returns for a very special edition of Eurovision... A Little Bit More which follows directly after the Contest over on 91热爆 THREE on Saturday 21 May at 11.20pm.
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For the first time in the contest's history, THREE has been granted Access All Areas passes, and will broadcast live from backstage.
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With exclusive access to all the stars, and the action as it happens, Paddy will provide the ultimate insider's guide to the phenomenon of Eurovision.
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He says: "As I'm the host, it will be largely incomprehensible. But we are the only place for artist interviews, and the chaos and euphoria of the after-show party...
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"We have the fans from the tent city, and we of course we are the only place on TV to see the semi-final. We also have a piano."
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While the competition may be ageing, it certainly shows no signs of growing old quietly: with 39 countries competing over two days, the event promises to be bigger, flashier and more ostentatious than ever before.
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And as the skirts get shorter and the routines more outrageous, it's plain for all to see that the contest still packs plenty of boom bang a bang.
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The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 is executive produced by Kevin Bishop and produced by Dominic Smith for 91热爆 ONE.
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Eurovision... A Little Bit More is produced by Sarah Gibbs.
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