Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations' beaten in Eurovision fix?
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Documentary claims 'vote buying' ensured Spain won
A new documentary has claimed that Sir Cliff Richard lost out in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest because of a fix.
Producer Montse Fernandez Vila alleged that Spanish dictator Francisco Franco bought votes to ensure the Spanish entrant Massiel won the competition with the track 'La La La'.
Richard's song 'Congratulations' - the favourite to win the music contest, and one of the most commerically successful tunes ever entered - came second.
Spanish TV presenter Jose Maria Inigo said: "It was a fix. Massiel won Eurovision with bought votes."
Inigo claimed Franco bribed judging panels to help boost Spain's international image.
Eurovision TV director Bjorn Erichsen said he couldn't "exclude" the possibility of a fix, but said there would be no investigation.
He told Reuters: "Just to make Cliff Richard a little happier and the Spanish winner a bit more unhappy?
"I don't think you should dig up old bodies to prove he was or wasn't the father. It's history."
Producer Montse Fernandez Vila alleged that Spanish dictator Francisco Franco bought votes to ensure the Spanish entrant Massiel won the competition with the track 'La La La'.
Richard's song 'Congratulations' - the favourite to win the music contest, and one of the most commerically successful tunes ever entered - came second.
Spanish TV presenter Jose Maria Inigo said: "It was a fix. Massiel won Eurovision with bought votes."
Inigo claimed Franco bribed judging panels to help boost Spain's international image.
Eurovision TV director Bjorn Erichsen said he couldn't "exclude" the possibility of a fix, but said there would be no investigation.
He told Reuters: "Just to make Cliff Richard a little happier and the Spanish winner a bit more unhappy?
"I don't think you should dig up old bodies to prove he was or wasn't the father. It's history."
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DesignForLife
May 6, 2008
wartree
May 6, 2008
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