How General Franco robbed Coulter and Cliff of Eurovision glory

Did you hear the one about General Franco rigging the Eurovision? It’s the subject of a new radio documentary by Richard Fitzpatrick.

DID you know General Franco, the longest-ruling fascist dictator of the 20th century, was a fan of the Eurovision? He was so obsessed with the song contest he fixed it one year so Spain would win. Or so the story goes.

I live in Barcelona. I heard the rumour in passing a few years ago, but thought nothing of it until I saw Phil Coulter elaborate on it during an interview on The Late Late Show in February 2013. The elements of the story (which include walk-on parts for Gay Byrne and Barry McGuigan’s father) are fantastic.