Jade and her four violinists in front of St Basil's Cathedral (Image courtesy of www.eurovision.tv)

The BBC's producer of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Helen Tumbridge, has kindly agreed to keep all of us up-to-date with the exciting goings-on in Moscow. Here's Diary Entry no.4:

Where was I? Ah yes, the opening party on Sunday. Quite poetically, it was a Red Carpet event in Red Square. Or just off Red Square if you want the truth, but I always find that the truth ruins a good analogy. The rabid dog had seemingly gone off to Gorky Park, so feeling brave, we got off our coach and entered the party.

Jade was swamped with crews. She looked stunning, she always looks stunning. Not that I'm a jealous old crow you know...

Sarah Cawood was out front doing pieces for BBC Three whilst Jade and her violinists (who make four mighty fine bodyguards when the time calls) worked the room.

The party was amazing. I can recall looking out of a window and seeing The Kremlin. It's not often one can say that. If I look out of my window at work I can see Queen's Park Rangers Stadium. I know which I prefer. All the delegations were there and the entertainment seemed to consist of every winning song from the past 50 years: Dana International, Dima Bilan, Marija Serifovic, and my all-time Eurovision favourite, Teach-In singing Ding-a-Dong. She still looks good, and it took me back to being a child with my Radio Times Eurovision Score card, nose pressed up against the screen, drinking in every Eurovision moment. Little did I know that 34 years later I would be here in Moscow. Hmmm. I seem to recall telling someone recently that I was 32. I must re-assess my showbiz age...

By the time we got back to the hotel we were exhausted. My sleep was not helped by a certain nameless member of the team calling me at 2 am asking what the name of our hotel was. It was also further hindered by a fire alarm going off at 3 am, not once, not twice but three times. After the first alarm, there was an announcement in Russian, which I was sure meant "don't worry, go back to sleep Eurovision campers". After the second alarm, there was an announcement in Russian and English: "Dear guests, this is an announcement, do not..." Do not what? thought I. Do not worry? Do not stay in bed? Ooooh, it was a real cliffhanger. Tune in next week for the next thrilling instalment...

After the third alarm I realised I was going to have to find out what was going on. I had the UK's Eurovision entry's safety to consider. So, I took the lift (yes I know you're not supposed to in a fire alarm situation, but I was sleepy) down to reception where I was assured that all was good, and I should go back to bed. I couldn't see any smoke and realising that my elderly jim-jams do nothing for me, I scurried back to bed.

MONDAY

Monday dawned, and off I went to the stadium. Rehearsals for the semi final act were in full swing. I won't spoil it for you... but it's G.O.O.D. and if the semi finals are that good, then the finals are going to be amazing.

I can let you into a tiny morsel regarding the final interval act. At Jade's rehearsal on Sunday, a spotlight couldn't quite light her. We pointed this out to the show producer who informed us that this was due to the "swimming pool" in the rigging but would be sorted. We all nodded wisely as if we knew what the hell they were talking about (this happens a lot in TV) thinking that "swimming pool" was a technical term for some piece of TV paraphernalia. Until I looked up and saw that there was indeed a real swimming pool in the rigging. This is going to be flown in for the interval act... I must remember my armbands!

So whilst rehearsals continued, I took the team on a tour of Moscow. Well, OK. The organisers had laid it on for us, but these trips are becoming known as Tumbridge Tours and I like to take credit where credit isn't due.

Our handsome guide Elena took us firstly to The Kremlin, which I can tell you means "fortress". After that I don't recall hearing a thing she said as my jaw had hit the ground and didn't come back to its natural position for the next three hours. It is possibly the most phenomenal place I have ever been to. I wouldn't want to attempt to use simple words to tell you about it, I could never do it justice. You just have to see it for yourself. (do I sound like an advert for the Russian Tourist Board? I must start charging).

Most impressive of all though was Jade who was wearing four inch heels, and remained upright and smiling for our accompanying photographer throughout. Even as we made our way across Red Square (which Elena informed us consists of hundreds of thousands of hand laid blocks) she was elegant to the end. I would have broken an ankle getting of the coach in those heels. Respect to Jade.

TUESDAY

So today, Tuesday, Jade is doing back to back interviews with the press. She is being inundated with requests, but Pammy and Julia from BBC Publicity are doing sterling work with their support.

I took the Metro from the hotel to the Olympski arena. It wasn't easy I admit and I relied heavily on the typically British way of pointing at a map and shouting in a patronising fashion but I got here... eventually. I even helped another passenger with directions. Of all the people on the Moscow Metro to choose for directions, Harri from Afghanistan chose me. He was last seen heading for Outer Mongolia.

I am right this very moment sitting in the Eurovision Press Centre, essentially a gym-sized room, decked out with hundreds of PCs for the press and hangers on like me to use. The man next to me has terrible indigestion and I'm working on an escape route, but being terribly British I don't want him to be offended by me being offended about his indigestion. So perhaps I'll just stay. He has a nice beard after all. There are film crews everywhere, they must be desperate for sound bites because even I have been interviewed. I think I might be very big soon in the Eastern Blocks.

Tonight is the BBC Three coverage of the semi finals. YOU MUST WATCH. I have been charged with looking after Alexander Rybak from Norway and Sakis Rouvas from Greece who will be appearing. Some would say that leaving me in charge of one ridiculously sexy Greek man and a darling looking Norwegian boy is not wise... I shall prove them wrong. I shall only give my number to just one of them... but which one? Choices. Choices. Until tomorrow comrades....

More of Helen's adventures in Moscow later this week!

Read Helen's previous Diary Entries:

Diary 3

Diary 2

Diary 1