Was Cliff robbed of his win?
Eurovision documentary explores the dark side of the iconic competition including claims judges were bribed to secure Spain’s success in 1968
FROM political shenanigans and faked participants to hidden drug messages and BBC panic, this is a nostalgic deep dive into all the scandal behind the big song contest.
The documentary rattles through some of the more surprising stories about what really goes on behind the scenes at Eurovision – which this year is broadcast from Turin in Italy tomorrow night.
There are previously unseen photos and new testimony of an audacious attempt by an Albanian delegation to storm the Royal Albert Hall and demand a place on the Eurovision stage – before being uncovered as fakes.
We also get the lowdown on BBC antagonism towards Eurovision and how one BBC governor saw Eurovision as ‘grasping vulgarity that he could not bear to watch.’
With contributions from former winner Cheryl Baker, former loser Andy
Channel 5, 8pm
Abraham and former host Jan Leeming, we get the inside track on life on the Eurovision stage, from defying terrorist threats to blacking out backstage after hitting the booze too hard.
From industry insiders and Eurovision historians, we get to hear about diva behaviour, political voting scandals and Cliff Richard hiding in the toilets.
It also explores the murky rumours that Cliff was robbed of his 1968 win by General Franco of Spain bribing the judges.
Among other revelations are insights into Eurovision’s battle with politics, from the Dutch entry that celebrated drugs, the Italian entry that was banned in its home country for fear that it would influence a referendum on legalising divorce, and the Portuguese entry that literally started a military coup.