*Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals - Tuesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 22 at 8pm on BBC3.
Eurovision Song Contest final - Saturday, May 24, 8pm on BBC One.*

The Eurovision Song Contest is a great demarcator - not of East vs West Europe, or heavy metal vs peasant folk - but of those who can laugh at themselves and those who really think their nation's pride is at stake.

Even legendary commentator Sir Terry Wogan calls it a 'triumph of musical mediocrity'. He says no song should try to be funnier than the event itself.

If a veteran Eurovisionist like Sir Terry celebrates the whole thing as a joke, then who are we to argue?

So, to the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 - some facts:
* A record 43 countries will compete in Belgrade, Serbia, this year, including two virgins, Azerbaijan and San Marino.
* There will be two semi-finals, from which 10 countries will advance from each to join the big four - the UK, Germany, France and Spain.
*Once again, Italy has shown the good taste to not enter the song contest. It last entered in 1997.
*Eurovision gets the largest TV audience, outside sporting events, in the world. It's usually watched live by more than 100 million.
*Seven-time winners Ireland are being represented by a puppet, Dustin the Turkey.
*Poland is being represented by an American, Isis Gee, singing a cheesy ballad (see below) dedicated to her husband.
*The UK's entrant Andy Abrahams was saved by Sir Terry's casting vote after losing a head-to-head with Michelle Gayle in Your Decision. He should be blamed if the UK scores the dreaded 'nil point'.
*The most-covered Eurovision song was Italy's Volare, written for the song contest by Domenico Modugno in 1958. It later went to No 1 in the US.
*The UK didn't award a point to ABBA's Waterloo in 1974, which won the song contest. In 1973 ABBA failed to be selected by Sweden with Ring Ring.
*France is being represented by cult producer/singer Sebastien Tellier. His song, Divine, is sung in English (see below) which has caused howls of outrage in his home country.
*Norway has the worst Eurovision record - yes, even worse than ours - and has finished last 10 times. Does that make it the most hated nation in Europe?
*Russia is the 5/1 favourite to win Eurovision 2008 with Dima Bilan's song Believe. The UK's entry Andy Abrahams is currently around 66/1.

The last word on Eurovision goes to Sir Terry: "It's the only international TV/radio event of its kind anywhere. The Americans would kill for something like it... For me, it's a great, spectacular, foolish frolic.'

CLICK below to watch the French entry, Divine, sung by Sebastien Tellier.

CLICK below to watch the Russian entry, Believe, sung by Dima Bilan.

CLICK below to watch the Polish entry, For Life, sung by Isis Gee.

CLICK below to watch the UK entry, Even If, sung by Andy Abrahams.