For a minute there (last year, when there was all that talk of Morrissey and similar getting involved) I thought we might be looking at sending something verging on valid to Eurovision in 2008, but that's all over now. That said, I'm perhaps being a bit unfair to Michelle Gayle. She has, after all, had a UK top ten hit, albeit more than ten years ago.
So yes, former Eastender and sometime pop star Gayle is one of the contenders vying to represent the UK at Eurovision this year. The rest of the line-up seems a bit dominated by former talent show stars, with X-Factor second series runner up Andy Abraham, ex Joseph contestant Rob McVeigh and former Maria hopeful Simona Armstrong also set to take part in the whittling down process. The remaining two candidates are girl groups LoveShy and The Revelations.
A winner will be chosen via public vote when BBC 1's 'Eurovision: Your Decision' airs on 1 Mar. They've changed the voting system slightly; a first cut will be made by a panel of three judges, so that might mean the worst possibilities don't get as far as the public vote, which could be a blessing. The legendary Terry Wogan, joined on the programme this year by Claudia Winkleman, says this: "A turkey is one of the contenders for this year's Irish entry. For the past few years, we've been picking a turkey for the UK. Let's hope that the British public will make the right decision this year, and give the UK's entry a fighting chance against the Eastern Bloc, in Belgrade in May".