Eurovision fever sends TV viewers into a texting frenzy
Close to half a million votes were registered for Sunday night’s poll, two- thirds of which were texts at 60 cent a go. The pool of Eurovision hopefuls is now down to just four. And programme promoters say they’re attracting growing television audiences, which now stand at over 800,000.
Three candidates will remain after next Sunday night’s show and the tempo is already hotting up ahead of the grand finale on Saturday, March 8.
The weekly show’s phenomenal success is proof that Eurovision fever is alive and well among a whole new generation, most of whom have never heard of Dana or Johnny Logan. One promoter said the buzz in DCU where the programme was beamed from on Sunday night, was comparable only to Hill 16.
And in true Hill 16 style, the thousands packing into the main hall at DCU are cheering on a host of counties. The four finalists hail from Limerick, Fermanagh, Donegal and Offaly.
And many of the final contestants will be well known to those who followed Popstars. Lisa Bresnan and Simon Casey both just missed the final cut when Louis Walsh and his team had the power of the vote.
Michael Leonard is better known on his home turf while Mickey Harte, from Lifford in Co Donegal, is making a very strong television debut impression.
Dubliner Brian Ormond and twins Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney, from Cork, became the latest contestants to be eliminated from the show last Sunday.
Simon Casey topped the phone poll yet again, followed by Mickey Harte, Lisa Bresnan and Michael Leonard.
