Other than a dodgy moment on a key change (and it is only a rehearsal and it's not like The Hump is used to his warm-ups being filmed) it looks like an interesting opener from the UK for next Saturday's final. It appears there'll be a rain shower of pyrotechnics, followed by some Catherine Wheel fireworks for the big finish. Good thing they're going for the memorable vote. Quite like the dancers too - what do you think?

Wishful thinking or not, it's great to see the BBC shedding its all too familiar defeatist attitude with a week to go until the Contest airs...

You may remember a blogpost from a while back about a visit I made to a group of HNC performing arts students at Liverpool Community College who were preparing a play based on the goings-on around a Eurovision party. I had a very enjoyable hour (although, as usual, I whittered on and spoke far too quickly) and last night I went to see the finished product performed at the college's theatre in its Myrtle Street premises.

Called All Kinds of Everything, the first half concentrates on the broad tapestry of folk making their way to the Euro Bash hosted by social climbing Christina (Beth Munro) whose husband Kevin (Brandon Cross) has spent their brief married life being pecked by a swarm of hens while struggling beneath the weight of his beloved's thumb. Kevin is secretly excited, however, as the true love of his life, Lily (Sophie Taylor) is due at their do and he can't wait to see her again, despite the circumstances behind their parting. Lily is sister to Lovely, a drag queen (Lewis Bray) who also goes by the name of Peter but whatever identity he adopts, you'll never forget he's around.