So what’s different in Junior Eurovision (or why nobody ever scores nul points)

With Junior Eurovision on this weekend, I thought I’d take some time each day this week to build up to one of the biggest children’s singing contest in the world. Today… what’s different between this Eurovision and the ‘Adult’ Eurovision that happens in May each year.

Who can sing?

Given the name of the contest it’s a children’s song competition, so they need to be between the age of 10 and 15. Those singing the song must also have written the song (but from last year adults can help them a little bit). Each song must have been selected through a live National Final unless there are exceptional circumstances.

What about the songs?

Unlike the adult Eurovision, the ‘national language’ rule is in effect here so each song must be sung in one of the official languages of the country being represented. It must also be between 2m 30s and 2m 45 s long.

How do I vote?

Given that “the internet” is not yet an official EBU member, only those people watching in the countries that have entered a song can take part in the televote – details on how they can do that will be on screen during the broadcast.

Perhaps I should set up a voting form here to be “the jury of the internet?”

How does the scoring work?

Exactly the same as this year’s adult Eurovision. Each country runs a televote, which makes up half of the score, with a jury making up the other half. The best placed song gets 12 points, then 10 points, 8, 7, 6 all the way down to one single point. Highest score at the end of the night wins.

Wouldn’t it be fun/awful if a kid scored nul points?

Yes it would, and something that would probably stigmatise someone for life. So the organisers, in a rare “let’s protect them from the harsh reality of music” automatically award everyone 12 points at the start of the contest just for turning up.

What do they win?

A trophy and a certificate. Thankfully in this economic climate the winners do not automatically host next year’s contest – it is bid for in a similar way to the Olympics.

How can I watch and enjoy this on Saturday?

It starts at Just put in 2015 CET (1915 in the UK, 1415 Eastern, 1115 Pacific) this Saturday, the 21st November. As to watching it, well, that’s where the Internet does come in useful. Come back here tomorrow, I’ll explain it all then!