What is Eurovision?

t's not just any old talent show, it's an institution -- an annual event that attracts an estimated global audience of 125 million.

But to the uninitiated, the Eurovision Song Contest can seem a mystifying cultural anomaly. Each year, this relic of the post-war era inspires scores of camped-up performers to perform even camper songs in a self-conscious display of continental unity.

But don't let that put you off. From Sweden to Spain, Portugal to Poland, the show gathers an ever more devoted following each year -- and 125 million people can't all be wrong, can they?

So, if you haven't seen it -- and don't know the first thing about what you're missing -- keep reading.