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| Wogan 'may quit Eurovision role' | Wogan 'may quit Eurovision role' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sir Terry Wogan said he may quit as the BBC's Eurovision commentator, as the UK entry sung by former X Factor finalist Andy Abraham finished in last place. | Sir Terry Wogan said he may quit as the BBC's Eurovision commentator, as the UK entry sung by former X Factor finalist Andy Abraham finished in last place. |
| Sir Terry cast doubt on his role after saying this year's results showed it was "no longer a music contest". | Sir Terry cast doubt on his role after saying this year's results showed it was "no longer a music contest". |
| Sir Terry, who has commentated on the competition since the 1970s, told BBC News: "I don't want to be presiding over yet another debacle." | |
| Abraham received 14 points for his song Even If, as Russia won with 272 points. | Abraham received 14 points for his song Even If, as Russia won with 272 points. |
| "Russia were going to be the political winners from the beginning," he told viewers at the end of his commentary on Saturday. | |
| Sir Terry Wogan criticises this year's contest | |
| "I think it's tremendously disappointing from the point of view of the United Kingdom," he added. | |
| "Andy Abraham gave, I think, the performance of his life with a song that certainly deserved far more points than it got when you look at the points that Spain got, that Bosnia-Hercegovina got - some really ridiculous songs." | "Andy Abraham gave, I think, the performance of his life with a song that certainly deserved far more points than it got when you look at the points that Spain got, that Bosnia-Hercegovina got - some really ridiculous songs." |
| Sir Terry said his producer, Kevin Bishop, was retiring after this year's contest. | Sir Terry said his producer, Kevin Bishop, was retiring after this year's contest. |
| "He and I have to decide whether we want to do this again," he said. | "He and I have to decide whether we want to do this again," he said. |
| "Indeed, western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in because their prospects are poor." | "Indeed, western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in because their prospects are poor." |
| On Sunday, Sir Terry added: "I'd like to think that the British music industry and [Eurovision organisers] the European Broadcasting Union will find some way of making the voting a little bit fairer." | |
| UK'S EUROVISION RECORD 2008 - Andy Abraham, 25th place2007 - Scooch, 22nd2006 - Daz Sampson, 19th2005 - Javine, 22nd2004 - James Fox, 16th2003 - Jemini, 26th Abraham received six points from San Marino - who were taking part for the first time - and eight from Ireland. | UK'S EUROVISION RECORD 2008 - Andy Abraham, 25th place2007 - Scooch, 22nd2006 - Daz Sampson, 19th2005 - Javine, 22nd2004 - James Fox, 16th2003 - Jemini, 26th Abraham received six points from San Marino - who were taking part for the first time - and eight from Ireland. |
| The singer said after the contest: "It's very easy to pick a country that's going to give another country 12 points. It's sad, it's really, really sad. | The singer said after the contest: "It's very easy to pick a country that's going to give another country 12 points. It's sad, it's really, really sad. |
| "It was all talked about beforehand and I decided that I was going to dismiss it. But it's very difficult to dismiss something that's right in your face." | "It was all talked about beforehand and I decided that I was going to dismiss it. But it's very difficult to dismiss something that's right in your face." |
| Germany and Poland also received 14 points each, but they officially finished above the UK because their top scores in a single round were higher. | Germany and Poland also received 14 points each, but they officially finished above the UK because their top scores in a single round were higher. |
| Russia received the maximum 12 points from former Soviet states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, as well as Israel. | Russia received the maximum 12 points from former Soviet states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, as well as Israel. |
| But Sir Terry was generous about the Russian song, Believe, performed by Dima Bilan. | But Sir Terry was generous about the Russian song, Believe, performed by Dima Bilan. |
| "Let's not take it away from him, let's congratulate him," he said. | "Let's not take it away from him, let's congratulate him," he said. |
| The UK has only finished in the top 10 once in the last 10 contests - but has finished outside the top 20 four times in that period. | The UK has only finished in the top 10 once in the last 10 contests - but has finished outside the top 20 four times in that period. |
| Early indications were that the UK audience for Saturday night's show was down compared with previous years. | Early indications were that the UK audience for Saturday night's show was down compared with previous years. |
| An average of 7.1 million people watched BBC One's three-and-a-quarter hour programme, according to unofficial overnight figures. | An average of 7.1 million people watched BBC One's three-and-a-quarter hour programme, according to unofficial overnight figures. |
| Last year's contest was seen by 8.77 million, a total which includes those who recorded the contest to watch it later. | Last year's contest was seen by 8.77 million, a total which includes those who recorded the contest to watch it later. |