THE YEAR THAT ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF EUROVISION FINAL CAME TO BIRMINGHAM

All eyes were on the National Indoor Arena and Dana International in 1998

- GRAHAM YOUNG News Reporter

ARE you waking up today with a Eurovision Song Contest hangover? If you are re-living the drama of last night's final, here's a chance to re-live the moment Eurovision came to Birmingham.

It was 27 years ago on May 9, 1998, that the biggest song contest in the world rolled into the city centre.

The National Indoor Arena (now the Utilita Arena) was the setting for the showbiz spectacular of the year.

The winner of The Eurovision Song Contest was Sharon Cohen's alter ego Dana International who sang 'Diva' in front of an enthralled audience in the stadium and to millions more watching at home.

It was the first Eurovision where those watching from home could help to decide the result, with 23 out of the 25 competing countries enabling viewers to make telephone votes.

Dana International had been born Yaron Cohen on February 2, 1972, but came out as transgender at the age of 13 and had reassignment surgery in 1993 the year of her first album release.

Dana International tried again at Eurovision 2011 in Düsseldorf but finished 15th in her semi-final with the song Ding Dong and failed to qualify.