Like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has arrived to dispel the gloom of a weary world. With 35 countries taking part, it's the most compact competition since 2003 - due to a partial boycott over Israel's presence. If you can put the politics aside (and many fans feel they can't), the competition presents its usual mix of mayhem and spectacle. This year's hopefuls include a man entirely covered in silver paint, a fake gorilla, an actual Boy George - and the