Jedward’s semis slot is a bonus, says stats expert

JEDWARD’S hopes of making it to the Eurovision final could be boosted by their last-place slot in Thursday night’s semi-final in Germany, according to an academic who has analysed previous contests.

Better known for his election predictions based on local voting patterns, Dr Adrian Kavanagh of NUI Maynooth’s geography department is turning his focus this week to his other passion — the Eurovision Song Contest.

He says previous acts to go on stage late in the night appear to have a better chance of success than early performers. The teenage twins sing Lipstick as the last of 19 songs on Thursday, hoping to be among 10 picked for the final two nights later, joining tomorrow night’s top 10 and the five countries which qualify automatically for the final.