By Andy Simon @AndySimon55

Being a little stuck for something to do on a Friday evening can for me at least, be rather awkward, and a little frustrating.

Granted; I could have read a book, washed the dishes, taken the dog out for a walk (if I had one) sorted out my fishing tackle draw or indeed, done a whole host of other little jobs around the house which I've been putting off until a more convenient time.

But no. I decided to be a lazy bugger, and watch some telly instead. But what to watch?

I scanned the TV schedules looking for a Friday Night treat as it's not often I get a whole weekend off. So I was pretty upbeat when I began my search. But as I looked, my options and my hopes, were quickly diminishing. Who was I kidding that I would be successful on what some would consider a Noble, but pointless quest?

I didn't fancy Emmerdale, I didn't fancy Coronation Street (I mean really; who does?) and I didn't fancy watching the news on Channel 4 as typically, it would have been all about President Trump.

And I've read, seen and heard enough
on him, for one day.

It was then I noticed a wee little show on BBC Two, and reluctantly decided (Goodness knows why) to give it a watch.

The show in question; Eurovision: You Decide, on BBC2, featured unsurprisingly enough, a bunch of ex X Factor Wannabes, all competing for the unenviable honour of representing the UK, at the Eurovision Song Contest, which this year will be held at Kiev, in the Ukraine in early May.

At this point I thought to myself,
"What have I let myself in for?"

The UK of course, whether it's a good thing or bad thing, depending on your viewpoint, is one of Eurovision's main financial backers, and one of six countries pre-qualified for the final. Other countries including France, Spain, Germany and Italy as well as last year's winning nation, get an automatic spot in the main event.

The whole spectacle of Eurovision has already been well documented, filmed, recorded and debated for a wide variety of issues and reasons, none which I personally agree with, apart from one particular point of view shared by a great many people . . .

It's dreadful, over the top, and utterly boring.

Over the years; particularly since the UK, along with the Americans invaded Iraq back in 2003, our influence and general liking by the European Union, and Europe as a whole, has been waning.

And this waning opinion was falling, long before we had our referendum, to leave the European Union. So you remainers reading this, cannot blame the Brexit'ers, for this one.

Far be it from me to suggest the Eurovision Song Contest, is riddled with (Ahem) political voting, but it's fare to say our final result position in 2016, after all the votes had been carefully counted and verified, had not been shall we say, a flattering.

So why do we continue to take part? I mean seriously; why bother? We've got no chance of winning anyway.

The Europeans don't like us. Fact!

It's 20 years now since our last Eurovision win, with Katrina And The Waves’ Love Shine A Light, and we have only finished in the top five twice since 2000. 2002 and again in 2009, with Blue doing reasonably well in 2011, finishing in 11th place.

So I was by no stretch of the imagination, full of hope when I sat down to watch Eurovision: You Decide, and listened to all the wannabes with their either crashed or about to crash singing careers, shouting, bawling and wailing their way through the show, keenly watched by so called, "Judges', Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Strictly Come Dancing judge, Bruno Tonioli.

Bruno quite simply put, had no business being there in the first place, which just shows to me at least, the level of importance the shows producers place on Eurovision.

My gut feeling is, that they don't think we can win either.

So it really doesn't matter which numpty they put through, so long as someone does go. And they go further to make life even easier for themselves by allowing the general public, who quite frankly, taking the voting fiasco at the NTA's into account, have no idea as to what they're doing, to vote on their behalf as to who wins.

At the end of the day; Bruno is a dancing judge, not a singing one. And his wild gesticulations, typical, and the stuff of legend in the Strictly shows, were not exactly great to see here.

Sophie Ellis-Bexter; just sat there, inputting very little, and of no real importance, and the mere sight of her was for me at least, about as inviting and as welcoming, as a smelly sock, found steaming away, in your laundry bin.

The unfortunate winner of this pitiful and pointless exercise of zero talent, was Lucie Jones, who managed to beat off the other ex X Factor wannabes, Danyl Johnson, Salena Mastroianni, Nate Simpson, Holly Brewer, and Olivia Garcia, to the winning post.

These losers don't realise just how lucky they really are.

Lucie later tweeted, "Completely overwhelmed and so surprised. Tonight's been one of the best nights of my life."

Poor thing.

The shows host, Bake-Off's Mel Giedroyc, tried her best to make the whole banal evening at the O2 Arena, sound exciting, wonderful and worth watching, but for me, it was nothing more than a waste of the BBC's resources on a Euro show many now consider as utterly pointless, and in which no one has any firm belief in anymore, and who rather sadly, now firmly holds on to the overwhelming opinion . . .

It will never be won again, by the UK.

And on reflection; after watching Eurovision: You Decide, I decided that I really should have gone with my gut, and cleaned out my fishing tackle draw, instead.

Lesson learned.

Thanks for reading.

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