Yesterday evening, Malta started its search for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. In the programme Showtime ma� Aceline, 36 singers will compete for two wildcards for Malta Song for Europe 2006, which takes place on 4th February.

Song for Europe Opportunity 2 Challenge 2006 takes place in nine episodes. In every episode, four singers appear. The best 10 from all episodes will appear in the final, which takes place on 7th January. The winner and the runner-up enter Malta Song for Europe 2006. 16 entries will be selected as in previous years, which means the Maltese national selection for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens will contain 18 songs.

Four participants joined the first show;

1. Lino Busuttil – Together
2. Leanne Ellul – In my life
3. Ina Robinich & Dominic Cini – Name of the game
4. Corazon Mizzi – 17

Malta can vote until Saturday, the 10 finalists will be known in the first week of January.