News - JESC: UK Less Likely To Participate | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

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Written by

Daniel Lewis

Published

17/Jul 2008 at 22:14

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esctoday.com, S4C

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S4C Wales United Kingdom Broadcaster - © S4C
© S4C

No current plans to take part

JESC: UK Less Likely To Participate

As earlier reported the United Kingdom were rumoured to return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time since 2005, when ITV decided to end the United Kingdom's participation. The UK started well in Junior Eurovision with 3rd place in 2003 and 2nd in 2004, when the UK reached 14th place and the ratings dropped ITV decided to resign from the contest.

Earlier in the year it was announced that the United Kingdom may return to Junior Eurovision, although with a different broadcaster, S4C were contemplating whether or not to take over the UK's participation in Junior Eurovision to represent the welsh language for the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest. Today it was announced exclusively to esctoday.com "S4C has no current plans to take part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest" by a spokesperson from the broadcaster.

It now looks increasingly likely that the UK will not particpate in the 2008 Junior Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in Limassol, Cyprus on the 22nd November. If the UK does participate in the contest it will be either the original network, ITV or the broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest, BBC.  This would be the first time the UK have participated in Junior Eurovision since Joni Fuller represented the country with her song 'How does it feel' in 2005.

 

The 2008 Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 22nd November 2008, in Limassol, Cyprus.


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neo nikolais [46251]
Tue 22 Jul 2008 11:01:21

come on UK!!Participate in the fantastic contest of Cyprus this year...xa xa glad that turkey isnt taking part in JESC in my country-Cyprus....if you do so you could be kicked out with 0 points!!


Brenton Cavendish [45152]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 21:15:54

I think UK'S best bet would of come from the French lady called Cyndi,even tho she came 2nd in the Preselsection for the UK,but I suppose,if BBC wanted to write a Song for UK ,it would wipe the floor with Russia if the Televoting is done right that is,Its like what Owen Williams said in his Profile,the UK are Sleeping Giants,and I suppose alot of people around Europe ,would be able to hadle that.


Brenton Cavendish [45152]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 20:56:25

wont be able sorry.


Ulrik Raben [37553]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 15:08:07

Let's see how many countries redraw next year.


Brenton Cavendish [45152]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 15:04:05

@BURR

thank you for your message sorry,I just saw it,yes I do agree with you in alot of ways of what you said,but maybe its me being Paranoid,I just can't see that to make any differance,but again,I hope I am Paranoid on that 1.


Brenton Cavendish [45152]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 14:55:24

Hey Guys,

Is it Possible to get Every Eastern European Song writers to Write Songs for each Western Europe Countries?, Ofcourse they will have to have some Connextion with each perticular Western Country,If this was Possible,and they did,and do the same for Eastern Europe,get Western Song writers to write a song for each Eastern Europe Countries,I bet the same Countries will still get into the Final.


london calling [25194]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 03:05:32

@ BURR

Here is an uncomfortable truth for you.
British pop sells by the millions all over Europe. If you're a British artist Eurovision is the last thing you want or need to be involved in. It is seen as the kiss of death.
If you're a Russian artist you need it for an international breakthrough because no one is interested in Russian pop music in Western Europe otherwise. Fact.


Owen Williams [36362]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 01:05:44

LOL BURR I can't believe you said Eurovison is a song contest! It's only that in name and in its TRUE objective but in recent years certian countries have bastardised that into something that is all together different and unfair!

I don't think anyone in the UK seriously thought we would win with Andy Abrahams or any other 2000's entry to be honest but what we DO object to is the fact that we end up significantly lower than we deserve in a SONG contest! You can't seriously tell me that Latvia deserved higher than the UK SONG wise this year! and countries from the eastern half of the continent do significantly better than most of them deserve. Had the UK sent Dima Bilan this year I seriously doubt we would have got over 15th!

I've also never said that the contest would fall appart without the UK, what I said was it wouldn't be the same without it! Its called tradition, the UK is a traditional Eurovision country, despite its results it is to Eurovision what Jam is to toast, its something someone from a country that hasn't taken part in the contest for even 15 years yet couldn't possibily understand! the UK may ridicule the contest, but we would never leave, no matter how much we disliked it even, to some people it will always be like your grandmother's birthday party where you are obliged to go and pretend to have a good time, but for others in the UK its one of the best nights of the year! Just look at the nationality of the fans on this site, the majority of them are either British, Greek Turkish or Russian. Britian my have a love hate relationship with the contest but when it comes to the crunch it is still very dear to us, like our old grandmother, and we will endure a lot for it!

lol maybe i went to deep into that metaphore, but at the end of the day BURR no matter how much you want us to leave we are not going to, not for a very long time, we (possibly more than any country in the contest) have made it what it is today and we will not be so quick as to just leave it, washing 52 years of history down the pan! and I know your a modernist and think history accounts for nothing but then your country is still incredibly new and you couldn't possiblily understand the depth and complexity of the British relationship with Eurovision!


Brenton Cavendish [45152]
Sun 20 Jul 2008 00:16:26

@BURR

If UK did send it a Famous Singer,with the Perfect Song,what makes you Think that people will be Sincere enough to vote for the UK.


Mina Carnation [51405]
Sat 19 Jul 2008 23:41:28

Eurovision without the UK or for that matter Germany, France, Spain or all the western countries that have a history of longer than 20 years in the contest would be like having fish and chips without salt and vinegar or Coke without Vodka, it would work but it just doesn't have the same effect!

I'm going to agree with this part. I can't picture eurovision without those countries (and Germany, too)..I just hope every year that I'll like one of their entries..lol


Owen Williams [36362]
Sat 19 Jul 2008 23:14:35

LOL BURR do you really want me to explain EVERY reason behind why the UK hasn't sent much even average songs in the 2000's ( we did get one 3rd in 2002 remember, even for you that seems to be living continuously in the present and future must admit that is a fairly recent success in a contest that has spanned half a century!)

OK Reasons the UK is not performing well:
1) Big artists don't want to take part in it for the following reasons:
a) its too much of a risk! British entries must get AT LEAST top three to maintain their chart topping status in the UK
b) if you make it big in the UK you can use that as a spring board into the international scene, unlike in countries like Russia and Ukraine where artists have to try 1000 times harder to get a truely international career. Big British artists simply don't need Eurovision.
c) They are not paid enough to enter the contest! most really big selling artists would want somewhere in the region of 20 to 25 thousand pounds for entering the contest, this on top of the BBC's already huge financial contribution to the contest is just not economical!
d)Eurovision has (rightly or wrongly) an image problem in the UK, its seen as camp, kitch and is taken a lot less seriously as it is in Russia, therefore even fans of the contest would think twice before they entered as it detracts from your credibility on home turf not to mention in our neighbouring countries.

2) the UK is by no means guaranteed a high place no matter how good the song is, like it or not there is at least some level of political and neighbourly voting which disadvantages the UK greatly

3) Eurovision is not seen as a really significant Musical event in the UK, not nearly on the scale of some of the festivals like Glastonbury and the awards evenings such as the BRITS, which have a much better image and credibility than Eurovision.

4) The BBC is living in the past, its sad but true, as the majority of people in the UK watch Eurovision either for Wogan's commentary or as its the only thing worth watching that night on saturday, most of them will believe what they hear about it, and Wogan and the BBC have been working furiously to make the British public think its just a bit of fun and very camp and kitch. Therefore no matter what wins each year we still think that the best song for the show is something fun, camp and kitch. So even if we have good songs in our National Final (or at least better ones) we will always vote for the one that is most "Eurovision" which is silly because actually only non Eurovision songs do well at Eurovision!

5) The BBC can't be bothered to really spend much in our selection process because of the fact we are already in the final and the fact they they know we will not do particularly well anyway.


These are the main reason why the UK dont send much good to Eurovision. And there is no point answering back that we should change it because we can't and don't tell me we should leave if we dont take it seriously! its patronising!
Eurovision is a British institution! We are the most successful country in the contest by a LONG way just under half of our entries have been in the top TWO and we have held more contests than any other country, if we have lost the way recently that is no reason to leave! Eurovision without the UK or for that matter Germany, France, Spain or all the western countries that have a history of longer than 20 years in the contest would be like having fish and chips without salt and vinegar or Coke without Vodka, it would work but it just doesn't have the same effect!


Madison Frobisher [24895]
Sat 19 Jul 2008 13:05:26

Good news.

Death to the JESC


Owen Williams [36362]
Sat 19 Jul 2008 01:54:00

Tim
I think the first one was shown on ITV1, but the rest were on ITV2 or 3


Tim - [16334]
Sat 19 Jul 2008 00:12:35

I thought the JESC had finished a few years ago, I think was only shown once in the UK...


Owen Williams [36362]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 23:56:36

Very true Richard


Richard M [19278]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 22:53:30

A lot of brats screaming, that's what jESC is. Do you honestly think the UK is going to be out on its own as the only Western country in the competition?? The jESC is dead before it took off.


Owen Williams [36362]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 18:37:33

BURR
If you think that ESC and JESC and even EDC are a good representation of a countries culture and talent, your more deluded than I thought! Like it or not, the UK is one of the biggest and best music industry countries in the world. Some of the biggest artists in the world are British or have British roots or live in the UK.
Now lets look at Russia, your home-nation, yes you've had good ESC results in the past but with the exception of t.A.T.u (who have kinda lost their credibility now) Russia really doesn't have any artist (past OR present) that have anywhere near the international success of the majority of successful British artists!

To say an entire country is talentless due to what you see at ESC is just ludicrous!


nemke s [24388]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 12:29:03

Well maybe its not a bad idea...maybe they should take a break from ESC. Something like 10 years, and then when they are ready t take it seriously and to fight for good results, then they should come back. But till then, why bother.
Personally i dont wanna see a country in the contest thats there to listen to that rather uneducated Wogan, who thinks he is funny, and just see it as a joke!

Maybe we do vote for each other in the east, but at least we are still creative!

Regards from Belgrade!


Stockholm calling [44413]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 12:24:26

Sweden has withdrawn from the JESC too. I think that's a good decision.
But I do look forward to the EDC :)


Kevin Knight [36876]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 11:18:44

i hate JESC :P

i'm glad the UK doesnt participate

i hope they cancel it soon, along with EDC

THERE IS ONLY 1 EUROVISION!


Mina Carnation [51405]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 10:42:16

if such contracts would be arranged to certain countries than that would be the worst thing that ever happened to (J)ESC

It was a joke, Jesse...I can't believe someone thought I was serious.
LOL


Mr. Nevermind [37297]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 09:49:56

Great!

JESC should stop exsisting! So should EDC!


Jesse Kuiper [17503]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 09:38:15

@ Mirna: if such contracts would be arranged to certain countries than that would be the worst thing that ever happened to (J)ESC.

It's a pity they're not in, but I already expected it. Fortunately my country will still be there.


garry chelsea! [32082]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 08:45:14

if people want to listen to young children singing go and watch a school choir, this is a tasteless event that exploits young kids, the sooner they end it the better


Ciaran Tuttiett [29300]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 06:49:24

Now, even the Welsh Nationalist Channel doesn't want to enter the JESC. It's a stupid excuse to say that the UK has had a poor record in the JESC. 3rd, 2nd and 14th?? Come on!!!!

Though, what might put the UK off is the that the contest is turning into the Eastern Junior Eurovision Song Contest! lol


Owen Williams [36362]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 00:37:54

LOL
BURR we came top three twice out of three entries, hardly dreadful! And believe me just because the UK can't be bothered to send something good to ESC doesn't mean the entire country is talentless, we have created some of the worlds best known artists not only from the past but currently too!

LOL Mina, I really don't think the last result was a major reason behind it, I think it could have been the straw that broke the camels back as it were, but I think the main reason we withdrew was the fact that no one gave a damn about it, and quite rightly!


Mina Carnation [51405]
Fri 18 Jul 2008 00:17:12

Maybe we should sign them a contract that they'll always be in the top 3...maybe that will make them reconsider :P


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