Eurovision 1998: Birmingham

The United Kingdom had not hosted for sixteen years, and fifteen cities asked for the contest. Birmingham got it. The National Indoor Arena could hold 13,000; about 4,500 were let in, chosen by ballot, and for the first time the front rows were given to fan clubs.

Terry Wogan, the BBC’s commentator since 1971, presented with Ulrika Jonsson — and went on commentating as well, from a booth behind the stage.

The public decides

The trial of 1997 became the rule. In every country except Hungary, Romania and Turkey, the points were now decided by viewers on the telephone. Juries remained only as a back-up.

It was the end of two other things. This was the last contest at which countries had to sing in their own language, and the last with an orchestra.

A small change turned out to be permanent: for the first time the name of the country appeared in the corner of the screen during each song.

Germany, reprieved

Germany should not have been there. On its recent results it was due to be relegated. Then Italy decided not to enter, and Germany was given the spare place.

It sent Guildo Horn, with a song written by Stefan Raab under a pseudonym. The song used no orchestra. Raab insisted on walking out and taking the conductor’s bow anyway. It finished seventh.

Macedonia made its first appearance, two years after falling at the audio qualifier.

Greece leaves, briefly

The Greek delegation was unhappy all week with the way its song was being shot. During the dress rehearsals the song’s composer behaved so aggressively that his accreditation was taken away.

On the day of the contest, Greek television announced that it was withdrawing. Minutes later it changed its mind.

Dana International

Israel’s singer was Dana International, the first openly transgender performer the contest had seen.

Her selection caused uproar among Orthodox Jews in Israel. There were street protests. A deputy minister demanded that she be removed and called her “an abomination”. She received death threats.

In Birmingham she was put in the one hotel in the city with bulletproof windows, and went out in public with armed guards.

The result

She won. “Diva” finished on 172 points. The United Kingdom’s Imaani had 166 and Malta’s Chiara 165: three songs within seven points of each other at the top.

It was Israel’s third victory, and Britain’s fifteenth second place. Switzerland, at the other end, scored nothing.

Where is she?

The winner is supposed to walk back on and sing. Dana International did not appear.

She had gone to change. Jean Paul Gaultier had designed her an outfit for the contest which she had not worn for the performance, and she meant to wear it now. On stage the two presenters and the previous year’s winner stood waiting, visibly baffled, until she arrived.

Spain’s votes

After the contest it emerged that Spain’s televote had been added up wrongly. Germany, which should have had Spain’s twelve points, had been given none, and the other scores from Spain were affected in turn.

The official results were corrected. The winner did not change.