Paphos Life

Entry to Eurovision is open to broadcast companies (not countries) that are representing a country and are members of the European Broadcasting Union. Membership of this organisation is open to broadcasting organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union, or are members of the Council of Europe. This includes broadcasters from what we immediately think of as European countries, African countries on the Mediterranean coast, and much of Eastern Europe such as Armenia, Georgia, Russia etc. Australia was invited to participate in 2015 as they have been keen fans of Eurovision and it was shown in Australia every year. They did well and so have been invited back a further 2 times. In effect they are a guest.
The UK has five members of the European Broadcasting Union:
BBC
ITV
Channel 4
Sianel 4 Cymru
UK STV

Israel have also participated for 44 years - but last night they said they were bowing out as they will no longer be one of the broadcasters following the shutdown of its state-run broadcasting channel Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

Wow what a knowledgeable bunch of members

Portugal was definitely quirky, as was the Romanian yodelling song (I quite enjoyed that, much more like the Eurovision songs I remember when I was younger).

I would have been happy if either of the above had won but I also very much preferred the song from Belgium as the winner. Cyprus was an okay song as well although not a Eurovision winner in my mind.