*Serbia won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007*

The Eurovision Song Contest - so easy to mock, but so, SO difficult to win...

Just ask countless UK entrants down the years who, even allowing for the lack of friendly neighbour votes (are you reading Greece and Cyprus?), haven't come close to winning international music's most glaMORous award since Katrina & The Waves in 1997.

This year, at the final in Helsinki, Finland, on May 12, 24 countries will do battle in a clash of cultures so vast it's easy to forget that the song contest was first conceived to help Europe heal the wounds left by World War Two. Which is kind of like sending Prince Phillip in to sort out the war in Darfur.

Including the semi-final on May 10, a record 42 countries will take part in the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest. For the first time, the Czech Republic and Georgia have entered, while others like Austria and Hungary return. Yet countries like the Lebanon, Libya and Algeria buck the trend and stubbornly refuse to enter.

And as ever, 2007's contest has been shrouded in controversy. Israel's entrant is Teapacks, singing Push the Button, which references Iran, nuclear war and war-crazy presidents. The Ukraine has produced the usual gender bender crisis, with drag star Verka Serdyuchka (AKA Andrei Danilko) chosen to represent his country, but Ukranian nationalists held demonstrations against his selection, claiming that he was a stereotype of a stupid Ukranian peasant. (A national stereotype in Eurovision? Outrageous!)

In Britain, camp trolley dollies Scooch triumphed on Making Your Mind Up in mid-March, a decision greeted with unconcealed bile by pre-contest favourite Justin Hawkins of Hawkins & Brown. He modestly claimed that viewers were 'either racist or stupid' to choose Scooch over Big Brovaz or himself.

But that's troubled water under the bridge. Scooch ARE the UK's entry for the final on Saturday, May 12, and are excited about the prospect of becoming reigning kings and queens of Europop. Click here to read our interview with Scooch's Natalie Powers.

So all that's left is to wish everyone 'bon chance' and hope that the successful man, woman, man-woman or gender-unspecified artist leaves us with the kind of Europop memory that will amuse for years.

SO WHO ARE THIS YEAR'S FINALISTS?*

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Marija Sestic, 'Rijeka Bez Imena'
Huge, heartfelt from the beautiful Marija. Her dad wrote her country's national anthem. 33/1 at William Hill
VIDEO: Watch Bosnia-Herzegovina's entry

Spain - D'Nash, 'I Love You Mi Vida'
Good-looking boys, great cheekbones, cool hair, nice dancers. 33/1
VIDEO: Watch Spain's entry

Ireland - Dervish, 'They Can't Stop the Spring'
Earnest Celtic pipes and harps. All that's missing is Father Ted and Dougal. 50/1
VIDEO: Watch Ireland's entry

Finland - Hanna Pakarinen, 'Leave Me Alone'
Emo rock that wouldn't look out of place on MTV. On Euroviz? All wrong. 40/1
VIDEO: Watch Finland's entry

Lithuania - 4Fun, 'Love or Leave'
Ticks all the Euroviz boxes - soothing guitar, nice bongos, breathy vocal, but missing a spark. 100/1
VIDEO: Watch Lithuania's entry

Greece - Sarbel, 'Yassou Maria'
Ricky Martin lives again! We like it. 14/1
VIDEO: Watch Lithuania's entry

Sweden - The Ark, 'The Worrying Kind'
Glam rock. Cool sound, wrong century. 6/1
VIDEO: Watch Sweden's entry

France - Les Fatals Picards, 'L'Amour A La Francaise'
1960s Francoise Hardy-style twee pop that suddenly goes rawk! 40/1
VIDEO: Watch the French entry

Russia - Serebro, 'Song 1' 12/1

Germany - Roger Cicero, 'Frauen Regier Die Welt'
Prussian swing. Kinda cool, but NOT a Euro winner. 50/1
VIDEO: Watch Germany's entry

Ukraine - Verka Serduchka, 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai'
Trashy, gimmicky cross-dresser - classic Eurovision nonsense. 12/1
VIDEO: Watch the Ukraine's entry

UK - Scooch, 'Flying the Flag (For You)
As played in the Mile High Club. A cheesy Europop blinder. Britain's best chance for years? 25/1
VIDEO: Watch the United Kingdom's entry

Romania - Todomondo, 'Liubi, Liubi, I Love You'
Cheap and tacky. Lyrics composed by Borat (or someone very like him). 25/1
VIDEO: Watch Romania's entry

Armenia - Hayko, 'Anytime You Need'
A lovelorn ballad with ethnic woodwind. Somehow makes us think of David Brent singing 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' 100/1
VIDEO: Watch Armenia's entry

*The 14 finalists are made of last year's top 10 plus the Super Four (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. They will be joined by 10 more finalists who qualify from the semi-finals on May 10.