Special Sub-Topic: Eurovision: 1991 Click Here To Play: Eurovision: 1991

In which Italian city was the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest held?

Rome. Originally the contest was to be held in San Remo. However, international tensions led to the decision that Rome would be safer, so at a very late moment the contest was moved to Studio 15 di Cinecittą in Rome, a large film studio which had become government property following its severe financial difficulties.

Which country won the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest?

Sweden. Sweden won by a thread. Their entry, "Fangad av en Stromvind" ("Captured by a Stormwind") tied with France's "C'est le dernier qui a parle qui a raison" ("It's the Last One Who Spoke Who is Right"). In the event of a tie for first place, the rules required that the one with the greater number of twelve-point scores would win, but in this case they had an equal number of twelve-pointers. Therefore the tiebreak went to the one with the greater number of ten-point scores; Sweden had received five ten-point scores while France had only two, so Sweden was declared the winner.

The UK's 1991 entry was a song called "A Message to Your Heart". Who sang it?

Samantha Janus. Samantha Janus is a singer and actress, probably better known for her roles in "Game On" and "EastEnders". She is also the niece of the footballer George Best.

The usual 'postcards' used to introduce each entry had something different about them for the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. What changed?

each singer sang an Italian song. Each country's singers were asked to sing a familiar Italian song. Normally the postcards would show scenes of the performer's country.

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 1991 Eurovision Song Contest were sung entirely in French?

two. Only two contries performed their entries in French. They were France - "C'est le dernier qui a parle qui a raison" ("It's the Last One Who Spoke Who is Right") and Luxembourg - "Un baiser vole" ("A Stolen Kiss")

One country withdrew from the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Which country was this?

the Netherlands. The Netherland chose to withdraw as the date of the competition clashed with their national holiday, Remembrance of the Dead. This happened once before, in 1985.

One country returned to Eurovision after staying out for at least one year. Which country came back?

Malta. Malta returned for its fourth attempt to gain Eurovision Song Contest fame. Having debuted in 1971, Malta also appeared in 1972 and 1975, then stayed away for the next fifteen years.

There were two presenters at the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Gigliola Cinquetti was one; who was the other?

Toto Cutugno. Gigliola Cinquetti is an Italian singer who came second to ABBA's "Waterloo" at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Toto Cutugno is an Italian songwriter whose song "Insieme: 1992" ("Together: 1992") won the previous year's Eurovision contest.

There's always a halftime - what was the entertainment for the halftime of the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest?

Arturo Brachetti. Arturo Brachetti is a quick change artist who is listed in the Guiness Book of Records as being the fastest costume-changer on record. Often the change occurs between the time a sheet is thrown up in the air and it landing on the stage. Giancarlo Alessandrini is an Italian cartoonist, Mauro Staccioli is a sculptor and Charles Borromeo was a 16th century saint.

Twenty-two countries vied for the 1991 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?

four. Four countries tied for two positions. Sweden and France tied for first place, with 146 points each. A tiebreaker was used to determine the contest winner. Ireland and the United Kingdom didn't fare as well, with both tied for tenth place with 47 points.