Opinion: Eurovision was whacky as usual but once again UK was once again robbed

Last week it was all about pomp and circumstance – this weekend it was all about Eurovision.

This completely barmy music fest that brings together practically the whole world – given that Australia, Israel, Morocco, Armenia and a few others that are not in Europe take part – is a truly marvellous concept.

It’s aim is to unite people from different countries through music, to highlight and embrace each others culture and differences, and of course the whakier the costumes, the madder the songs, the better – and to be fair this year’s show definitely provided some of those – my personal favourites were Finland, Serbia and Croatia (just why?).

But this year’s extravaganza had a poignancy about it because of course it should have been Ukraine hosting the final not us – although Liverpool certainly did us proud.

Ukraine won it last year earning the right to host this year, but the ongoing war there made it impossible – and as a consequence showed that no matter how the peoples of different countries feel, and how willing they are to take part in a little friendly competition, it only takes one crazy tyrant to put a spoke in the wheel.

It is horrific what is happening in Ukraine and to its people there, and I’m only sad they were unable to have the magic of Eurovision within their borders – but the UK was the winner as a result, if not of the contest itself.

It’s 25 years since we last won Eurovision – 1997 – when local artist (well she’s from Cambridge) Katrina and Waves triumphed. From then on it has been one disappointing result after another and not even a vague hope of a win and the chance to act as hosts – OK we came second last year, but this year it was normal service resumed with us coming second from last.

It was marvellous it was here once more and it was a fantastic spectacle too, but I can’t help but feel that Mae Muller was robbed – OK she wasn’t (in my opinion) the best on the night, but she was most definitely better than 24 meagre points

Personally I thought Sweden’s winning song was awful, although she was definitely up there for whacky performance – I just hope the sceptics, who felt her win was a fix so Sweden can host next year which is the 50th anniversary of Abba winning with Waterloo, is wrong – but I fear that politics with both a small and a large P may once again have been at play.

One of the things I loved about this year’s show, was not just Graham Norton’s bitchy asides (I just love his commentary, it’s almost as funny as the late Sir Terry Wogan’s), but also the montages showing a site from Britain, Ukraine and the country about to perform, it was a nice way to link Ukraine with the competition and made me realise what a fabulous country it would be to visit one day...

How old is too old to become a parent? It’s a question that has troubled people for years – one notable debate was sparked when March woman Pauline Lyon announced she was pregnant in 1995 at the age of 52 – her huband Dave was also in his 50s and she was about to become the country’s oldest mum.

Pauline suffered lots of personal attacks about choosing to be a mum for the second time at such an ‘old’ age.

Personally I always admired Pauline and Dave for the dignified way they dealt with all the furore – and they have proved fantastic parents to both their daughter Lauren and son Brodie – and have also proved all the naysayers wrong with their doom and gloom predictions.

But while Pauline, who was menopausal, went against nature using an egg donor to have her babies, men can continue to father children until they die.

And that’s the quandary for me – the fact they can doesn’t necessarily mean they should.

What has brought this to mind? News that Hollywood legend Robert De Niro has become a father for the seventh time at the age of 79.

His oldest child is 51 and now he has a newborn – I admire his stamina, he’s going to need it.

Babies are a blessing, but I think there is a time when humans should be enjoying being a grandparent or more likely at 79 a great grandparent.

so sorry Robert, I do congratulate you and wish you joy with your new daughter, but call me old fashioned and close minded if you like,because I’m not sure it’s right to father a child so late in life.

At least little Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro is unlikely to want for anything, but she may well be missing her Daddy before she hits puberty, and no amount of material things can make up for that loss…

Finally if you have ever wondered what true friendship is then look no further than Kevin Sinfield and the bond he has with his ex-rugby team mate Rob Burrows.

The image of Kevin carrying Rob over the finish line at the Leeds marathon at the weekend was enough to warm any heaert – it was friendship at its absolute best, and something we should all aspire to...