Blast from the past: The voice of Eurovision - the late, great, Sir Terry Wogan
For many of us the kitsch, musical extravaganza that is the Eurovision Song Contest, has never been the same since the late broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan hung up his mic in 2008.
Wogan with his risqué jokes, sharp one-liners, grudging praise and knack for saying what everyone at home was thinking, was what made the Eurovision, with its dreadful songs and absurd costumes, worth watching.
There were many memorable Wogan Eurovision moments. Introducing the 2007 contest from Finland he said: “Who knows what hellish future lies ahead? Actually, I do. I’ve seen the rehearsals.”
During his tenure, the Limerick-born broadcaster would never tired of jokingly insinuating Eurovision was awash with voting cartels, about as close to a free exercise in democracy as a general election in North Korea.
With his combination of barbed jokes and flagrant pro-UK bias, Wogan recommended Eurovision be enjoyed with the help of a stiff drink.
He used to wait “until maybe song 11” before pouring himself a drink – traditionally a glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream with ice – in the commentary box, but in later years he found “the drinking got earlier and earlier” to cope with the ridiculousness of what he called Eurovision’s “triumph of appalling taste”.