The Final - Saturday 16th May

[mediastar]

I thought Norton was a lot better than Wogan.

Wogan was shambolic. He was routinely sarcastic about every song, talked over the start of the acts, on one occasion could be heard mumbling half way through what turned out to be the winning song and provided little insight.

Norton was Norton. He was sarcastic at some points but was positive about other acts. He also pointed out the band member hiding at the side of the stage in the Romanian act - and pointed out a rule that could have explained her presence. Wogan would never have spotted anything like that.

Wogan's attitude was a principal reason why major acts in the UK shunned the contest. Introducing Norton and Lord Lloyd-Webber has made an immediate change. The UK got more points last night than in the previous five years combined.

[Minnie]

Introducing Norton and Lord Lloyd-Webber has made an immediate change. The UK got more points last night than in the previous five years combined.

To be honest I'm not sure that had anything at all to do with Graham Norton, I think the credit belongs to ALW and Jade herself.

[mediastar]

The deal with ALW may have required Wogan to be replaced by Norton or at least by someone else. I could not imagine ALW working alongside Wogan.

The problem was Wogan. He never featured in the broadcasts by other channels in other countries. He just provided the commentary for the final at the BBC, but his shadow was cast over the whole event in the UK.

[Minnie]

I didn't have any problem with Wogan. I've never particularly liked Graham Norton and never understood why the BBC have chosen to give him such prominence. I thought he did OK. Just OK.

[Arctophile]

Sorry - i thought the majority of his comments were inane and proved yet again that the BBC is wasting money on a talentless idiot. 

[Bigdav48]

I'll assume that it was all the usual load of Euro codswallop?.....I cant see any of the acts bettering Cirque Soleil?

[BelligerentBoss]

I can well understand why the contest is a big deal to some of these countries. Look where they have come from, the journeys they have taken. They have no real clout in Europe, but winning, or even being in with a chance of winning, is such a big deal to them. They're proud to be Europeans (those that are in the European Union anyway), so good on them all i say.

Lets be honest, the music has always been lousy, even 40 odd years ago.

[mediastar]

The BBC has never been good at finding and developing entertainment hosts but they are few on the ground anywhere. Ant and Dec lead the pack in the UK and Thomas Gottschalk has probably been the strongest all-round presenter in Europe.

The problem with Wogan was that he had the same response to anything in the Eurovision contest. Just sarcasm. The BBC also has the role of identifying the act and the song to present for the competition although that role would be better done elsewhere. Neither Wogan nor the BBC have selected British sports teams they have televised for example.

But as they have that responsibility they should be doing it properly and selecting good acts and good songs. Instead they have put characters like Katie Price in the final six and come up with dreadful songs. Simon Cowell, ALW, Pop Idol et al have shown it is possible to develop good talent and world-class acts and the Eurovision should be no different. Remember it little more than a year since both BBC One and ITV1 finally dropped their dreadful celebrity singing shows. They are very slow learners.

But now they have dropped Wogan and got ALW to demonstrate how it should be done there is a chance they will finally understand what needs to be done. Let's see if they can get Gary Barlow to do the follow-up next year.

Norton will survive because there's no one better and because he won't frighten too many people away. He's not good but he was a lot better than Wogan and things are now getting back on track.

[Arctophile]

I agree that he was not good - but IMHO he was nowhere near as good Wogan even on a bad day. Even at the end he was squealing that Iceland had been pipped for second place - with one vote to come and Norway doing the voting!!! His "asides" were fatuous and to be honest he is a further reason to not watch

[kg]

I was out so I didnt watch it, but I saw parts on youtube, and I thought he was miles better than Wogan.

I didnt like Wogan he got on my nerves for some reason.

[ryans_lady]

I thought Norton was a lot better than Wogan.

Wogan was shambolic. He was routinely sarcastic about every song, talked over the start of the acts, on one occasion could be heard mumbling half way through what turned out to be the winning song and provided little insight.

Norton was Norton. He was sarcastic at some points but was positive about other acts. He also pointed out the band member hiding at the side of the stage in the Romanian act - and pointed out a rule that could have explained her presence. Wogan would never have spotted anything like that.

Wogan's attitude was a principal reason why major acts in the UK shunned the contest. Introducing Norton and Lord Lloyd-Webber has made an immediate change. The UK got more points last night than in the previous five years combined.

 

[Arctophile]

Better Eurovision song, but shame there was no Wogan

Only poor old Graham Norton, thanklessly taking over from Sir Terry Wogan as our commentator, couldn't quite pull it off. "I miss Terry too," said Norton. "I'm sorry, he's not here." Quite.

Quite agree!!

LINK

[Barnesy]

I thought Norton was a lot better than Wogan.

Wogan was shambolic. He was routinely sarcastic about every song, talked over the start of the acts, on one occasion could be heard mumbling half way through what turned out to be the winning song and provided little insight.

Norton was Norton. He was sarcastic at some points but was positive about other acts. He also pointed out the band member hiding at the side of the stage in the Romanian act - and pointed out a rule that could have explained her presence. Wogan would never have spotted anything like that.

Wogan's attitude was a principal reason why major acts in the UK shunned the contest. Introducing Norton and Lord Lloyd-Webber has made an immediate change. The UK got more points last night than in the previous five years combined.

I agree 100%! I cant stand Terry Wogan but i thought Graham Norton was brilliant!!!!!! Long may he continue!!

[Minnie]

Long may he continue!!

He's continued more than long enough as far as I'm concerned

[Arctophile]

As far as I am concerned the first word he said was two too many. 

[Barnesy]

Oh well! Personally i cant see what you like in Wogan, he is way past it in my opinion, time for a fresher and funnier model!

[Minnie]

Graham Norton isn't that fresh and he definitely isn't funnier

I'm not saying that Wogan is the best person for the job, in fact I agree that he probably is past his sell-by date for Eurovision, but he would still be preferable to Graham Norton who likes the sound of his own voice too much and isn't nearly as funny as he thinks he is.

Anyway, if you agreed with me I'd be worried

[Barnesy]

Very true!

I think that Graham Norton is a million times funnier than Terry Wogan. I think GN had the perfect balance with talking and listening. TW used to speak loads more and it was just shameful to hear him getting more and more drunk!

Im definitely pleased with the new choice and will tune in next year if he is presenting again!

[Minnie]

Norton was so busy talking he didn't actually appear to listen to anything If he presents next year I expect that I will still tune in but it will be despite the fact that in the whole of the vastly over-populated and overpaid BBC he is the only presenter they can think of to wheel out again and again and again

[Arctophile]

Sorry but the day he actually says something funny I will probably faint. 

[ryans_lady]

I love GN, I agree with Josie, TW is way past his sell by date.  Look on the brightside, it could have been worse, we might have been saddled with the Beebs biggest earner,  Wossy..   

[Barnesy]

I was following Wossy's tweets on Twitter at the same time as watching the programme and he was being very funny!

[ryans_lady]

but he has been kinda in disgrace recently, thats what I was referring to.. 

[DebraBarrFan]

I liked Israel's song. And that 'Tap tap tap' song...i think it was Turkey. lol. Eurovision is so sad.

[no1_chris_fan]

I think that Graham Norton is a million times funnier than Terry Wogan. I think GN had the perfect balance with talking and listening. TW used to speak loads more and it was just shameful to hear him getting more and more drunk!