Olly Alexander - Dizzy (LIVE) N.B. Contains sexual inuendo.

Those outside of Europe may not be aware of the big annual TV music competition called 'The European Song Contest'. The (supposedly) best of each country's singers and song-writers compete, country by country, to be voted winner of this once prestigious bash.

The competition took place this last weekend, and below is England's entry. I shall not give my opinion of the song, other than to say that it looked as if it was filmed in a men's public lavatory.

I can remember watching the programme many years ago when the likes of ABBA and Sandy Shaw sang pleasant songs to pleasant tunes. Those days have gone, my friend.

Now the singing has become shouting, the tunes have become non-existent, and the surrounding flashing lights and atmospherics have become (seemingly) more important than the song.

On Saturday evening I tried to watch some of it, but boredom soon overcame me. There is only so much tripe that one can suffer at any one time. The following morning I learned that Switzerland had won (and the singer instantly broke his trophy), and that dear Olly Alexander (above) received Nil Points from the voting public.

Other than the actual contest, there were, of course, the usual accompanying protests. Professional teenager Greta Thunberg was arrested over something silly, there was some nasty pro-Hamas boo-ing at the Israeli contestant, and the Dutch singer was expelled from the show after some shenanigans with a young production lady back stage. Just what we've come to expect.

There is no question that the show is now totally out of control. It has become political, often semi-pornographic, and doesn't represent anywhere near the best of European music. I think it's had its day, and should be scrapped.