LOVE it or hate it, the Eurovision Song Contest is an institution, gaining international viewing figures of about 100 million. And it is about to get even bigger.

Instead of 26 countries, 52 will now be eligible to take part. And instead of an evening in front of the box, there will be a whole weekend to look forward to, a fact that could have you stocking up on the nibbles for that all-important Eurovision party or removing the plug off your TV, depending on your point of view.

This also means a whole weekend of Terry Wogan's fond and slightly sarcastic comments, though whether he or the public are ready for two days of the competition that gave us Boom Bang-a-Bang, Bucks Fizz and Gina G is anyone's guess.