Brexit isn't being 'held against' UK in Eurovision, says world's first lecturer on contest

13 May 2022, 12:04 | Updated: 13 May 2022, 12:05

Brexit isn't being 'held against' UK in Eurovision, says world's first lecturer on the contest
Brexit isn't being 'held against' UK in Eurovision, says world's first lecturer on the contest. Picture: LBC/Alamy

By Tim Dodd

The lecturer behind the world's first university course on the Eurovision Song Contest Dr Dean Vuletic says Brexit isn't being held against the UK in the competition and that they "just need to send a great song".

Ahead of the final this Saturday, the European Broadcasting Union announced that no Russian act will participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

A statement posted on the competition website said the decision had been made after concerns that Russian participation would "bring the competition into disrepute".

The move comes after European countries threatened to boycott the competition if Russia were allowed to compete following its invasion of Ukraine.

Dr Dean Vuletic is a historian at the University of Vienna where he teaches the world's first university course on the contest. He is also author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, the first-ever scholarly book on the topic.

"Do you think we are the most prickly of nations when it comes to Eurovision results?" Nick Ferrari asked Dr Vuletic.

"Right now yes, but not always. It hasn't always been the case," he replied.

"The United Kingdom had its golden age in Eurovision, let's say in the late 1960s and 1970s.

"It's not actually a political problem I think. One of the issues that British entries have faced is the fact that entries can be in any language now. So ever since 1999... you haven't had this advantage anymore of being able to sing in English."

Read more: This was the Eurovision question from Nick Ferrari that stumped Boris Johnson

Asked whether Britain has been "punished for Brexit" in recent years of Eurovision, Mr Veletic said: "Europeans still love to consume British popular culture, that hasn't changed. I don't think Brexit is being held against British entries, you just need to send a great song."

Jacob Rees-Mogg quizzed on Eurovision

Describing the university course he lectures on, Mr Vuletic said: "We learn about issues such as nationalism, prosperity, war, European integration of course is perhaps the overriding theme.

"But then we learn about issues such as Anglo-Americanisation, European popular culture became dominated by Anglo-American models in the post war period.

"And now more recently the issues concerning gender and sexuality."

Read more: U-turn on windfall tax? Boris Johnson refuses to rule out levy on oil giants profits 

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Caller Som has a warning from the past as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.

Caller Som has a warning from history as Israel and Iran conflict escalates

LBC callers react to Israel’s ‘risky’ strike on Iran

LBC callers react to Israel’s ‘risky’ strike on Iran

Caller in Israel warns against Iran becoming a nuclear-armed state

Caller in Israel warns against Iran becoming a nuclear-armed state

Caller points out that Israel denied entry to Labour MPs as UK comes under fire for new sanctions

Caller points out that Israel denied entry to Labour MPs as UK comes under fire for new sanctions

Caller Layla

Caller Layla fears for her daughters following Kemi Badenoch's Burqa comments

Caller Barry

LBC caller backs the government's reversal on the winter fuel allowence

Nick Ferrari is unsure about caller Bill's proposal to turn migrant hotels into prisons

Nick Ferrari is unsure about caller Bill's proposal to turn migrant hotels into prisons

Call the Cabinet: Nick Ferrari is joined by Environment Secretary Steve Reed to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Nick Ferrari is joined by Environment Secretary Steve Reed to take your calls

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

Exclusive
'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams government

'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams the government

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’ | LBC’s best callers of the week

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Farage is a media-made man'

David and Nick debate whether 'tiny and ridiculous' Reform gets too much airtime

Tube worker John

Tube worker shares his close encounters with fare dodgers

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions