VENUE Usher Hall, Edinburgh		ENTRIES 18
HOST Moira Shearer		DEBUTS None

In the early decades of Eurovision there were several occasions when the winning country did not host the next contest. In the very first years the contests were shared around between the biggest broadcasters, and sometimes after that the winning country was unable or unwilling to host, yet all but one Eurovision winning nation has at some point hosted the event.  The exception is Monaco, who were unable to provide an acceptable venue to host the 1972 event, despite the fact that Radio Television Monte Carlo was not lacking in funds and the requirements of a Eurovision venue were far less than they are three decades on.

Not for the first or last time, the BBC stepped into the breach, and after three London contests, embarked on their plan to take Eurovision around the country by choosing the tiny Usher Hall in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.  As a nod to the Scottish venue, Moira Shearer took Katie Boyle's place as compere.  The United Kingdom commentary was done by Tom Fleming of royal wedding fame.  No less that six of the eighteen countries sent a male/female duo to the contest, a ratio unprecedented before or after.

Yves Dessca surrendered the songwriting laurels to..... Yves Dessca. Both Luxembourg and Monaco brought in foreign talent in those days and no-one seemed to mind too much. Five years after seeing her "Love Is Blue" scrape fourth place in Vienna, then covered by all and sundry in English to worldwide success, Greek songbird Vicki Leandros got her night in the spotlight and a sizeable pop hit across the continent.  She has continued to be a popular singer, especially in Germany, where she made an unsuccessful effort to sing for them in the 2006 contest.

WINNER: Luxembourg

APRES TOI by Vicky Leandros

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