Things are about to get ugly!

I think this article from the Daily Mail will spark off some heated debate! Either click on the link or read below.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2162937/Eurovision-race-row-UK-acts-flopped-skin-colours.html

INSIDE THE BOX: Eurovision race row: UK acts flopped 'because of skin colour'

Eurovision acts have experience racism behind the scenes

Andrew Lloyd Webber told 'black acts won't win'

By Dan Wootton

PUBLISHED: 00:13, 22 June 2012 | UPDATED: 11:54, 22 June 2012

There’s a disturbing new theory behind the UK’s lack of success in the Eurovision Song Contest - racism.

Senior figures linked to a number of former UK entries have told me they experienced racism behind the scenes and were openly told that acts ­featuring ethnic minorities would not be supported by many of the voting nations.

Since 2005, UK acts including Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen, and boyband Blue have done badly in the contest, despite strong performances.

Now several industry figures are pressing the BBC to cut ties with the competition for good.

One entry tells me: ‘We were told repeatedly when we were touring our song around Europe that we didn’t have a chance because of the race factor.

‘We didn’t believe it at the time. Then on the night our vote was very low in certain countries. Organisers were very open that there is a track record for some nations refusing to cast votes for acts featuring ethnic minorities.

‘We found the entire experience devastating and strongly believe the UK needs to withdraw. It’s a joke.’

A manager of another former UK hopeful says: ‘When we returned home and everyone was asking us what went wrong, it didn’t feel right to mention the race factor but it’s well known in the industry the impact it has on votes.’

Even Andrew Lloyd Webber is believed to have been caught up in the Eurovision race debate. He co-wrote the song that Jade Ewen, who has a Jamaican mother, came fifth in 2009.

A member of the UK camp that year adds: ‘Jade won a TV talent show in the UK to perform Andrew’s song. Andrew lobbied for her around the Eurovision countries before the contest.

At least once he was asked at a press conference why he had 'cast a black girl' because it meant he could never win.

‘He was so shocked, he had to ask several times for a translator to repeat the question.’

This week, pop flop Sophie Ellis Bextor ruled herself out of being our next Eurovision entry, and song contest sources pointed out the UK has struggled with all-white acts Scooch and Josh Dubovie in recent years — and TV ratings have stayed stable, despite the results.

A Beeb spokesman said: 'The BBC is committed to Eurovision and has no evidence of any ­racism around the event.'