AS a child, Duncan Heryett used to watch the Eurovision Song Contest on TV as an excuse to stay up late.

But he became hooked on the show - and now, at 35, claims to be the biggest fan in Sussex.

As Eurovision returns to our screens again tonight, teacher Duncan will be with a select group of fellow fanatics in London, filling in their own unofficial scorecard.

Duncan subscribes to a magazine dedicated to the competition and his home in Shakespeare Road, Worthing, is filled with Eurovision singles and videos.

He can list all the winners and songs of the contest and has a vast knowledge of Eurovision trivia.

He said: "The Eurovision Song Contest was something everyone used to watch in the Seventies.

It was an excuse for me to stay up late really, but I have followed it ever since.

"A few years ago a friend suggested I joined the Eurovision Network, which runs throughout the country.

"As part of the network I get magazines with the results of heats of each of the countries, song selection and news about the people who are competing in the contest."

As a network member, Duncan has had a sneak preview of the songs entered in this year's contest - and his hot tips are Sweden and Iceland.

Duncan said: "The Sweden entry sounds a bit like Abba and with the group's revival at the moment I think it will do quite well.

"Iceland's entry is a really upbeat song and is just so catchy that I think people will like it."

And Duncan's verdict on the entry of the UK's all-girl band hopefuls Precious?

"It's all right but I am not really convinced that it has got what it takes to be a Eurovision winner."

Due to a change in the rules last year, voting now takes place with the public phoning in their results, rather than a jury scoring the points board.

Duncan believes this will mean the winning songs will appeal more to the man in the street.

His all-time Eurovision favourite is 1992 winner from Ireland, Niamh Kavanagh, with In Your Eyes.

Duncan said: "I think it has to be a good song which sticks in your mind. Eurovision songs either tend to be a strong-sounding ballad or a catchy pop song."

Tonight Duncan will be taking part in a mini contest, scoring each song with fellow fans in London.

"We have our own competition with our own voting and our own winners. But it usually ends in major arguments," he says.

Duncan is proud of his knowledge of Eurovision trivia - "the winning song sung by Katrina and the Waves a couple of years ago had the highest number of points ever awarded for a winning song."

Ateacher at English Martyrs RC primary school in Durrington, Duncan fulfilled an ambition last year when he went to see the contest in Birmingham.

And he is no stranger to competition after winning the Krypton Factor and winning through to the final of the European television quiz game Going For Gold.

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