Eurovision Song Contest is finally coming to Asia - meet the stars gearing up in Thailand - BBC News

On Saturday, the biggest and longest-running international song contest will make a leap into unknown territory.

Image source, Eurovision Song Contest AsiaImage caption, Mongolia's Beck debuted as a singer in 2007 and has since made his mark in acting, hosting, modelling and producing

On Saturday, the biggest and longest-running international song contest will make a leap into unknown territory.

Eurovision, the pan-European competition famed for zany gimmicks, slick, sometimes over-the-top staging, the drama of its complex voting system and, occasionally, for outstanding music, celebrates its 70th birthday this year.

And to mark it, the European Broadcasting Union is trying out audiences in Asia.

It's an idea that's been talked about for two decades but never materialised, despite many false starts.