Eurovision for some people means Abba, nil points (mostly for the UK, yes) and a booze up – unless you’re like me.

Stockholm 2000 was the first Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) I remember watching and getting hooked on for the madness, melodies and mishaps.

As a child, the contest quickly became a highlight of the year for me. Fast forward 16 years, as I stood in the same arena almost to the day, partying with the masses for Stockholm 2016.

Although I was a trainee journalist at the time, this had nothing to do with work, but more so me finding my own feet in a foreign country at the helm of the world’s largest live music event by myself.

See just a mere nine years ago, Eurovision felt more accessible to me as a long-time fan, but since then ticket prices have soared, and even members........

© The Oxford Times