Eurovision 2012: 20 bizarre facts about the contest The UK has won five times and been second 15 times. Ireland, represented again this year by Jedward, is the country with the highest number of wins (seven). Each song cannot be longer than three minutes and a maximum of six people are permitted on the stage at any time for each country. Live animals are banned. In 2006 Ireland's Brian Kennedy, who has sung duets with Van Morrison, became the 1000th act to sing on the Eurovision stage with Every Song Is A Cry For Love. He came tenth. The UK has hosted the competition five times - in London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham. Bruce Forsyth's daughter, Julie Forsyth, appeared with Guy 'n' Dolls in 1979. A singer named Ruslana won for Ukraine in 2004 and was later rewarded with a seat in parliament. Nearly 2000 journalists are covering this year's event. 14 countries took part in the first contest - 42 are participating in Baku. Norway are the Eddie the Eagle of Euro pop. They have scored "nul points" more times (four) than any other country in Eurovision history and have also appeared at the bottom of the polls the most number of times (10). Among the contestants who have had successful careers are ABBA (1974), Céline Dion, Cliff Richard and Julio Iglesias. Dion won for Switzerland in 1988 with the song Ne partez pas sans moi. Cliff Richard competed twice, finishing in second and third place in 1968 and 1973 respectively and Grease star Olivia Newton-John also took to the Eurovision stage, singing her way to fourth place in Brighton in 1974. Other artists who have achieved varying degrees of success after winning include Dana, Brotherhood of Man, Marie Myriam, Johnny Logan, Bucks Fizz and Nicole. Johnny Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest three times; in 1980, 1987 and 1992. Italy boycotted the 1981 Eurovision Song contest, saying that it was too old fashioned. Purely instrumental music is not allowed Titles of songs have included Boom Bang-aBang (UK, 1969), A-Ba-Ni-Ba (Israel, 1978), Bana Bana (Turkey, 1989) and Bourn Badaboru (Monaco, 1967). 1983 the Turkish Eurovision entry, Opera consisted entirely of the word 'Opera' being repeated over and over. Spain's cleverly titled, La La La contained no fewer than 138 la's. Norway's 1980 song was about the construction of a hydro-electric power station. The youngest winner was 13-year-old Sandra Kin from Belgium in 1986. The first Eurovision Contest broadcast in colour was held at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, in 1968.