Special Sub-Topic: Eurovision: 1987 Click Here To Play: Eurovision: 1987

Where was the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest held?

Belgium. It was held in the Palais du Centenaire in the Eeuwfeestpaleis in Brussels, Belgium. The Centenary Palace in Heysel Exhibition Park (as it is in English) is one of the few remaining structures from the 1935 World's Fair.

Which country won the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest?

Ireland. Ireland won with their entry "Hold Me Now". Composed and sung by Johnny Logan, whose real name is Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard, it was one of very few self-composed songs to ever win the competition.

The UK's 1987 entry was a song called "Only the Light". Who sang it?

Rikki. Rikki is actually Richard Peebles, a Glaswegian pop singer who also sang with the group Marmalade. Dee C. Lee sang with the groups "Wham!" and "The Style Council". Julia Fordham was a backing singer for Kim Wilde and later became a solo singer. Kim Wilde is the pop singer daughter of rock singer Marty Wilde.

The 1987 Eurovision Song Contest had what was by then the largest number of entries. How many countries which had previously participated did not take part in 1987?

three. Three countries did not take part in 1987. Malta, Monaco and Morocco chose not to send entries. Malta had previously taken part in 1971, 1972 and 1975 but was not seen again until 1991. Monaco took part every year from 1959 to 1979, then did not participate again until 2004. Morocco only took part once, in 1980.

The current rules stated that each country had to sing in their own official language - but there are a number of countries with more than one official language. How many entries in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest were sung entirely in French?

three. This year three entries were sung in French. They were Luxembourg - "Amour, Amour" ("Love, Love") France - "Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche" ("No Sunday in Loving Words") and Switzerland - "Moitie, moitie" ("Half and Half")

What was the difference in points between the scores of the two last-placing entries in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest?

4 points. Turkey had bottomed out with 0 points. The next-lowest scoring entry came from Luxembourg, with 4 points.

Two countries returned to Eurovision after staying out for at least one year. Greece was one; which country was the other?

Italy. Italy had not participated in the 1986 competition. Their 1987 entry, "Gente di mare" ("People of the Sea") placed third.

Who was the presenter at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest?

Viktor Lazlo. Viktor Lazlo was born Sonia Dronier but chose her stage name from a character in the film "Casablanca". She is a singer, born in France, who released many of her albums in both a French and an English version.

There's always a halftime - what was the entertainment for the halftime of the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest?

Marc Grauwels. Marc Grauwels is a Belgian flautist. (Before you all go up in flames about the spelling of his first name, yes, I know, Wikipedia spells it "Mark" - but the guy's own website spells it "Marc". I think I'll go with his own version!) Servais Le Roy was a Flemish magician, Leo Madder is a Bekguin actor and John Massis was a Flemish strongman who had very, very strong teeth - strong enough to pull a locomotive or bend steel.

Twenty-two countries vied for the 1987 Eurovision Song crown. That means there should have been a 1st position, 2nd position, 3rd etc, all the way to 22nd, right? Wrong - or is it? How many countries, if any, tied for position?

two. Only two countries had a tied score this year. The Netherlands and Denmark vied for fifth place with 83 points each.