“Jedward will now represent Ireland…”

You were warned…  RTÉ reports the people’s verdict on their chosen shortlist of candidates for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.  The Irish Times explains how it came to pass…

Although the voting was originally supposed to have been an equal split between regional juries and a public vote, this was changed after a 30-second clip of the song was inadvertently leaked on the internet due to an administrative error by Universal Records, the twin’s record company.

As a result the voting was changed so the juries’ decision was worth two-thirds of the overall vote, the rest of which was up to the public.

The Grimes twins – John and Edward – entertained, if not completely bowled over, the Late Late Show’s live panel, made up of RTÉ’s Marty Whelan; singer Brian Kennedy; Cheryl Baker, a former Eurovision winner with Bucks Fizz; and Today FM’s Mairead Farrell. The majority of the panel cited Nikki Kavanagh and her song Falling as their preference. She also received most points among the regional juries.

This put Kavanagh into the lead with 66 points, four more than Jedward’s 62. But, as Kennedy rightly pointed out, the texting capabilities of “the Jedwardians” ensured the twins won out in the end having secured the public vote, pipping Kavanagh at the post by two points.

As for the UK…  The BBC don’t have ‘the public’ excuse having selected their representative themselves – reformed boy band, Blue…

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