Italy has applied to compete at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, returning after a 13 year absence. Eurovision fans all over the world will be thrilled and excited to have Italy back on the Eurovision stage after such a long time. Italy has won and hosted the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Now, the Big-4 group of countries might welcome a 5th member.

Italy will be back at the Eurovision Song Contest next year in Düsseldorf. Last time the Italians took the Eurovision Song Contest stage was back in 1997, with Jalisse and the song Fiumi di parole. The country has enjoyed 2 victories at the Eurovision Song in 1964 with Gigliola Cinquetti and in 1990 with Toto Cotugno.

Italy might become the 5th member of the 'big' Countries, thus making the Big-4 into the Big-5. This will be put forward at the fortchoming Reference Group meeting later this month.

"Over the years, our team put a lot of effort into bringing our Italian colleagues back on board for the EBU's flagship entertainment event," said Jørgen Franck, TV Director ad interim. "We consider their renewed interest a great compliment, and are eager to show the Italian people how the contest evolved over the past 13 years. I am sure they will be positively surprised!", Mr Franck told eurovision.tv.

Some three months ago, esctoday.com reported that something was about to change in the Transalpine country. During the presentation conference of X-Factor, it was revealed that the winner of this contest would become the Italian representative in the 2011 Eurovision. The show ended last week, with Nathalie Giannitrapani lifting the trophy. However, no information as to the Italian ambassador to Düsseldorf has been revealed yet.

The full list of participants in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 will be announced shortly after the Christmas holidays.

Stay tuned to esctoday.com to follow the latest developments on the return of Italy to the Eurovision Song Contest.