Saturday, September 1, 2007

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Tonight the first Eurovision Dance Contest was held in London. Sixteen countries entered with most of the participants coming from the regional versions of Strictly Come Dancing.

The participants and countries, listed in winning order, are:

Placed Country Dancers UK Voting Number Points
1
Finland || Jussi Väänänen & Katja Koukkula || 0901 522 20 16 || 132
2
Ukraine || Yulia Okropiridze & Illya Sydorenko || 0901 522 20 14 || 121
3
Ireland || Nicola Byrne & Mick Donegan || 0901 522 20 10 || 95
4
Poland || Katarzyna Cichopek & Marcin Hakiel || 0901 522 20 11 || 84
5
Austria || Kelly & Andy Kainz || 0901 522 20 05 || 74
6
Portugal || Sónia Araújo & Ricardo Silva || 0901 522 20 13 || 74
7
Russia || Mariya Sittel & Vladislav Borodinov || 0901 522 20 02 || 72
8
Germany || Wolke Hegenbarth & Oliver Seefeldt || 0901 522 20 06 || 59
9
Denmark || Mette Elkjær & David Jørgensen || 0901 522 20 12 || 38
10
Spain || Amagoya Benlloch & Abraham Martinez || 0901 522 20 09 || 38
11
Lithuania || Gabriel? Valiukait? & Gintaras Svistunavi?ius || 0901 522 20 08 || 35
12

The Netherlands || Alexandra Matteman & Redmond Valk || 0901 522 20 03 || 34

13
Greece || Ourania Kolliou & Spiros Pavlidis || 0901 522 20 07 || 31
14
Sweden || Cecilia Ehrling & Martin Lidberg || 0901 522 20 15 || 23
15
United Kingdom || Camilla Dallerup & Brendan Cole || 0901 522 20 04 || 18
16
Switzerland || Denise Biellmann & Sven Ninnemann || 0901 522 20 01 || 0

Greece didn’t air the show live, and the points given out were decided by a jury of Greek experts. Despite France not taking part, the show was broadcast in English and French. Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman hosted at BBC Television Centre. Graham Norton kept the audience laughing throughout the show and also sent sent his consolations to both Greece, for their forest fires, and to Switzerland as they were heading for nil-points, which, in the end, they finished with. Despite Finland winning the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest will also be held in London. If next year’s show is popular, the winning country will host the following year’s contest, Song Contest style!