March 16: The Deadline Approaches

The deadline for all participating countries to announce their performers and songs for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest is almost upon us. Representatives from all 42 competing nations will be heading to Moscow this weekend to make their formal submissions to the organisers... exciting, isn't it?!

The BBC's Executive Producer of Eurovision, Phil Parsons, explains what's going to be happening over in Russia:

"At this meeting we have to take all our plans and staging information with us - that means telling the organisers how we want Jade's performance to look on the big night. There's a mass of other material to deliver which the team are pulling together now. All 42 participating countries will be there so it's a great chance to see what the competition is up to!"

"On Monday there's a big presentation on the directing and lighting of the show. It should be spectacular - the stage is enormous. On Tuesday we'll be going to the Olympiyski Stadium itself to check out the facilities - not just the auditorium but also all the backstage areas like dressing rooms, make up, press centre etc. And we'll be trying to bag the best commentary booth position for Graham Norton's first Eurovision!"

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