Eurovision 2010: Grandmother Russia

There’s always a lot of speculation around the entries from nations who have recently hosted the Eurovision. Famously, rumours were buzzing round in the mid-nineties that Ireland who -- having won three years on the trot -- were so desperate not to host again they entered what can generously be described as an absolute sack of shit to ensure that they didn’t win and so didn’t need to give the contest a home for a fourth year.

Whether or not that’s actually true is anyone’s guess, but it never stops the gossip mill.

Russia hosted last year and having seen what they didn’t let through to the competition we’re wondering if maybe they’re reluctant to play host again. Without doubt they had the most incredible entry that we have seen in a national heat recent years -- an eye-poppingly weird but brilliant 3 minutes of entertainment that would have been a clean sweep at the finals -- no question.

No-one would have dared give six bobbing old women, dressed in matching outfits and singing their sweet little song, anything less than 12 points -- yet still they’re not going to Oslo.

We still love them though.

Buranovskiye Babushki -- Kak zhit

This is what they’re sending in its place:

Peter Nalitch -- Lost and Forgotten