Let’ s sing a new Euro-song

As ritual national humiliations go, the eight million-strong UK TV audience suggests the Eurovision Song Contest remains a popular one with the viewing public.

Clearly the annual venting of rage that our chosen acts have been so utterly and cruelly rejected by our continental cousins comes with a generous dose of amused superiority.

This is, many reassure themselves, with an eye on all the world-class British pop and rock stars that have made it huge on our rivals’ shores, a mere consolation to be fought over by the second best.

It must though be an uncomfortable experience for those we send into battle in our name, armed only with weapons which have proved to be blunt time and time again.

And there are genuine questions about whether it is an approach licence fee payers should continue to subsidise to such a degree.

It is perhaps time we either took it more seriously and played the game or did not enter at all.