Nul points Brits look to the future

HOWEVER disappointed the Irish camp felt after the Eurovision with 53 points under their belts and ranked 11th out of 26, spare a thought for the British after their worst performance ever in the 48-year history of the competition.

Even the Irish failed to give them a vote after their off-key rendition of Cry Baby. Pop duo Jemini were in tears and very much nursing their wounds after receiving the worst ever results for a British act in the Eurovision Song Contest. The result excludes them from next year's competition.

Only the top 12 go forward to the revamped Eurovision next year, which also features a live televised preliminary round. God help us.

Ireland finished joint 11th with Germany, just making the cut. The British gave us 12 points and we gave them nothing. And as the fans embraced last night, those behind the group were blaming politics and the war on Iraq.

Gemma Abbey, 21, said afterwards: "Nul points maybe that's what we should change our name to."

As the Turks celebrated, and chants of 'Tat who' resounded around Skonto Hall, the British were desperately silent - for once. "From the start we honestly thought we'd win it, we were so confident in every aspect the performance, the clothes, the choreography," Abbey said.

Things had looked good for Jemini. Their song was written by Martin Isherwood head of music at Paul McCartney's famed school, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

As the results came in, Terry Wogan, who gave the BBC commentary said: "I think Britain is suffering from post-Iraq backlash."

Mr Isherwood echoed this on BBC Radio Five Live saying the competition was extremely political.

"I think politically we are out on a limb at the moment. As a country I think we paid the price last night, " he said.