Eurovision 2015: 20 fun facts about the 60-year-old song contest

Bianca Nicholas and Alex Larke of UK 2015 Eurovision entry Electro Velvet Getty

There are just two days to go before the 60<sup>th annual Eurovision Song Contest, when 20 countries will battle it out for the top spot.

As we await the final on Saturday 23 May, here are 20 things you might not know about the competition – from the oldest contestant to the entry in a made-up language...

In 1981, Italy boycotted the contest because they deemed it "too old-fashioned".

The contest was first held in 1956 in Switzerland, for the purpose of uniting nations through song around a "light entertainment programme".

The use of live animals is prohibited during performances, as is instrumental music – it is all about the lyrics.

The Eurovision Song Contest was first designed to be a classical music competition, rather than the pop music it is renowned for today.

Eurovision Song Contest 2015 — Conchita Wurst performs Rise Like A Phoenix after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen Getty

Switzerland's Emil Ramsauer is the oldest contestant to have performed in the contest, who was 95 when he formed part of the 2013 entry Takasa.

The youngest entry was Sandra Kim for Belgium, who was 13 when she won the competition in 1986.

Sandie Shaw's Puppet On A String was the UK's first victory in 1967.

Riverdance had its debut performance during the interval when Eurovision was in Dublin in 1994.

One of the principle rules of the competition is that countries can submit a song of any style, as long as it does not exceed three minutes.

Cheryl Baker has appeared twice, first in 1978 as a member of CoCo and second in Bucks Fizz in 1981.

Ruslana Eurovision — Ruslana of Ukraine performs during the semi-finals for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest Getty

In 2008, the Belgian semi-final entry O, Julissi was sung in an artificial language. It missed out on representing the country at the final.

When Israel won in 1978 with Izhar Cohen & The Alphabeta, Jordanian television showed a bunch of daffodils and said Belgium had won.

Of the winning songs, 22 were performed in English and 14 in French.

Ukrainian singer Ruslana was made an MP after her winning performance of Wild Dance in 2004.

Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Competition a record seven times, while France and the UK have won five times.

Abba Eurovision — Abba performs Waterloo during the the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 in Brighton Getty

Spain's entry La La La by Massiel contained the word "la" 138 times.

Luxembourg has given the UK 123 points out of 20 voting occasions.

When it first started, the Eurovision Song Contest was known as the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix.

Despite being a catchphrase, the term "nul points" is never used. It is either "zero point" or "pas de points".

Norway has come last a record-breaking 10 times.

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