The guilty pleasure that is the Eurovision Song Contest returns in all its patriotic and hair-blowing glory on Saturday. This year's glitzy event will take place in Vienna, and is certain to feature one hilariously sarcastic British commentary, stage outfits you haven't witnessed since the early noughties and Soviet-style block voting. Here are ten things you need to know about the 60th annual cheesy song fest...
1. Nigella is to read out our 'nul points'.
An unlikely choice for the late-night role of reading out who gets the UK's vote, but it turns out the sultry TV chef is a huge Eurovision fan. The BBC apparently recruited Lawson after she tweeted a picture of herself with a mock beard during last year's contest, in support of Austrian transvestite Conchita Wurst.
2. Conchita the fashion icon?
Since winning 2014's competition sporting a beard and full-length gown, Austrian transvestite Conchita Wurst has captured the attention of high fashion. Karl Lagerfeld shot the singer for Carine Roitfeld's fashion magazine, CR Fashion Book, and he also closed Jean Paul Gaultier's AW14 couture show. We predict a killer outfit when Conchita takes to the stage at this year's interval.
3. G'day! Australia makes their debut.
The country's inclusion in Eurovision for the first time ever might make absolutely no sense from a geographical perspective, but surely the UK needs all the allies we can get? Guy Sebastian has made the long trip up from Down Under, and will be hoping to impress as the first Aussie entry in Eurovision's 60-year history. Canada for next year, anyone?
4. Graham Norton gives us hope.
The TV presenter who has continued Terry Wogan's brand of deadpan commentary since 2008 - and is the real reason why we still tune in - has revealed he is optimistic aboiut the UK's chances. 'Who knows? You never know. ALWAYS. Look, Germany won. Austria! We're GOING to Austria. They hadn't won since 1957 or something - it's nuts,' he told the Radio Times. 'Who knows? We'll find out on the night.' We're suffering from déjà vu.
5. Tissues at the ready...
Turns out this year's contest has done away with disco fever and embraced the power ballad. Russia (below), Greece and Iceland have all opted to belt out some emotion. Armenia's rock ballad, 'Face The Shadow' by Genealogy, joins the Kardashians in marking the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
6. Get ready to book your tickets to Stockholm!
This year's bookies' favourite is Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw. His Avicii-style performance of 'Heroes' is the most talked about entry of the contest so far, and it looks very likely he'll be following in the footsteps of ABBA's performance of 'Waterloo' in 1974, and Loreen's hit 'Euphoria' in 2012.
**7. Finally, the Brit entry. **
Electric Velvet - who are cheery duo Bianca Nicholas (former The Voice auditionee) and Alex Larke (Rolling Stones tribute band member) - have the nation divided with upbeat, electro-swing 'Still In Love With You'. The couple are apparently pleased with the musical Marmite verdict - 'it got people talking,' they told Digital Spy. Let's hope Europe loves it rather than hates it...
