[Dan_]

Juries are to make a comeback in next year's Eurovision Song Contest final after criticism about the fairness of public televoting at this year's event.

A panel from each country will vote alongside the viewing public, and is seen by Eurovision bosses as a way of balancing the popular decision.

This year's contest came under fire for neighbourly voting, which helped Russia win while the UK finished last.

Next May's annual musical competition is due to be held in Moscow.

Song contest officials will meet again later this year to decide how the voting will be split between the juries and televoting.

Diaspora voting

Svante Stockelius, Eurovision's executive supervisor, said: "Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times before they make up their minds.

"We believe a combination will make the show more interesting," he added.

A jury vote was reintroduced to the semi-finals of the contest at this year's contest in Belgrade, and there was a difference between their view and the public's verdict.

Sweden finished 12th in the televote, but came 10th with juries and proceeded to the grand final.

Some countries, including the UK, have performed poorly since public voting determined the winner of Eurovision.

This year, singer Andy Abraham only picked up votes from Ireland and San Marino.

Other competing nations, including Greece, Turkey and Russia, have benefited from neighbourly votes and those cast by communities living in other European states.

Fans of the contest, who have become disgruntled with the voting system, have been calling for a return of the jury vote.

Until 1997 when the first countries adopted televoting, national juries were entirely responsible for allocating Eurovision votes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7617242.stm

Hopefully this will make things a bit fairer.

[Tom]

The only way to stop tactical voting is by banning voting altogether and let the jury make the final decision. Even if the votes are split between a panel and viewers Western countries will never win anyway because we always end up at the bottom of that leaderboard, so would have to come top of the jury panel to win.

[Ross]

UK, France and whatever other Western countries enter, will not come in the top 10 ever again imo.

[SiaSiaSia]

good idea
judging was a bit more fair
i like the idea they're balancing the two, too.

[GiRTh]

Great idea. I might even start to watch it again.

[MR.K!]

good ! although public voting should be completley scrapped !

[liam_bigbrother]

although its a good idea, its still won't make a difference.

[Shaun]

Ah, that's excellent news.

[Lauren]

Good idea.

I love watching Eurovision but always get disheartened at the voting stage. I'd be the first to say if we deserved 0pts, but often enough I actually think we deserve SOME.

[andybigbro]

Goood.