Wogan complains of Eurovision 'Cold War'

Terry Wogan has complained of Eurovision "Bloc voting" - warning of a Song Contest "Cold War" - as neighbours vote Serbia's Marija Serifovic to the top spot.

The host thinks there is a problem with countries, particularly in the east, voting for those close to them, rather than on merit.

He told BBC News Online: "It's a pity it's not about the songs any more. There's a definite Baltic bloc and a Balkan bloc and they've been joined in recent years by a Russian bloc. We won the Cold War but we lost the Eurovision."

And, in an article written before the competition and published in the Sunday Telegraph, he explained: "Once again, Balkan and Balt will have voted for each other; those within the shadow of the Russian bear will have voted for the old oppressor, just in case; Scandinavians will have given each other the nod; guest workers dotted throughout Europe will have done their bit for the lands of their birth."

Another name in broadcasting, former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read, told BBC Breakfast on Sunday he was also worried about the trend. "This voting for the neighbours is just a nonsense now," he commented. "You could sit there last night and you knew who they were going to give the 12 points to, every single time."