EUROVISION has seen it all over its 69-year history from catchy Abba anthems to 80s skirt-ripping and men in fox masks.
But in recent yearswith scantily clad milkmaids, cheeky backless chaps and even an exposed testicle blunder when make a bid for freedom from his tiny pants.
This year’s entrants are looking just as risque with Finland once again leading the charge, this time in latex hotpants, while over complaints it sounded a little too similar to a crude word for a woman’s privates.
Former winner Cheryl Baker, who took home the gong in 1981 with Bucks Fizz, certainly isn’t taking issue with the Contest’s ‘smutty’ side.
She’s throwing a viewing party at her home complete with national flag bunting and balloons and can’t wait to see the wacky and wonderful performances.
In an on behalf of Heart Bingo, she said: “There was the one bloke last year that I thought, ‘oh that’s a bit going too far because he had one b*****k hanging out, didn’t he?’ That was a bit unnecessary.
“Yeah, it is a bit smutty but life’s a bit smutty now isn’t it? Everything a bit more extreme. It’s so funny to think that those rip off skirts that Bucks Fizz used was such a jaw-dropping moment and it’s nothing compared to what they rip off now.
“It’s part of the Eurovision fun isn’t it? It’s always going to be that colourful, that extreme, that fabulous and joyous, it’s such a joyous thing, and it’s once a year, it’s fantastic.”;;
Last year Finland appeared to quite literally drop the ball, when Windows95man, performed in very small pants.
The visual artist, who’s real name is Teemu Keisteri, left fans in shock after his testicles appeared to pop out.
He began dancing to the song No Rules! with a flesh coloured patch over his groin leaving little room for the crown jewels.
While Fizz’s Eurovision win in ’81 was much more innocent, there was still shock when Cheryl and bandmate Jay Aston had their skirts ripped their skirts off while performing Making Your Mind Up.
It was tame by today’s standards, but considered a controversial raunchy gimmick four decades ago.
So it’s little surprise Cheryl is all for a bit of cheeky fun on the stage.
She said: “I think that’s the fun of Eurovision. They are going to say saucy things, or try and get away with saying saucy things, or suggestive things.
“I mean, they’ve done it for years. It’s going to get you points, or it’s going to get you noticed, and of course you’re going to do it.
“That’s the beauty of Eurovision, it is tongue in cheek. I know it’s important, especially for the winning act, well look at me, it changed my life.
“But the whole point of Eurovision is to bring everyone together and just have a wonderful love fest, you know, be happy and make it fun. That’s the beauty of it.”;;
And she’d much rather see a saucy reveal than a divisive political speech that swaps escapism for grim reality.
“I hate it when politics comes into it,”;; she said.
“I know it sometimes does, but, you know, to be there, like when I was in Liverpool, and to feel that joy, and everyone being together and everyone cheering each other on.
“I think that’s the beauty of Eurovision. It’s a real unity thing, Eurovision, and it’s worldwide.”;;
