The Eurovision Song Contest has always been about more than music: it is a celebration of the sheer, silly chaos that ensues when thousands of people gather to enjoy thumping euro-beats, ridiculous costumes and the enthusiastic waving of tiny flags. But that spell has surely now been broken with ongoing tensions over the participation of Israel, leading to the exit this week of Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia – a move that threatens to rip the core out of the biggest-hearted event in pop.

At its best, the competition is an escape hatch from the drudgery of 9-to-5 life. Peak Eurovision is a holiday from the everyday – a glitter-festooned safe space where all that matters is zany outfits, madcap grooves and a delectable drizzle of douze points. But as we are now discoverin

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