After a reported 1,5 million Belgian TV viewers looked on as favourite Kate Ryan was knocked out of the contest at Thursday's semifinal, some 92% of voters in an SMS poll think that Belgium should no longer participate.

Popular station Radio Donna held the SMS poll to measure the reaction of Belgians to the shock disappointment of semfinal failure. The overwhelming majority of no votes paints a good picture of the disbelief and anger felt towards Kate's abandonment by European televoters.

Disappointed but strong
Despite not making the final, the Belgian delegation are to stay in Athens as planned, and will try their best to enjoy the rest of the contest as passive participants. Delegation head Steve De Coninck-De Boeck said "Of course Kate is disappointed. But she's doing well – and she's mentally a very strong person."

The extent of each of the unlucky thirteen countries' failure will be clear on Saturday evening, when the full placings are published for the semifinal.