Comic Eclair takes on Eurovision

Eclair is a regular on Liquid News

Comedy performer Jenny Eclair will replace the late Christopher Price as the presenter of BBC Choice's Eurovision Song Contest party.

The channel is hosting a week of special programmes in the lead up to the contest, which is taking place in Estonia on 25 May.

Eurovision favourites

1 - Germany 3/1

2 - Sweden 5/1

3 - France 8/1

4 - Estonia 9/1

5 - UK 9/1

Source - Eurobet

Price, who had hosted the search for this year's UK entry, was due to commentate on the event, but the Liquid News presenter was found dead in his flat last month.

His sudden death caused shock among his friends and fans, with thousands of e-mails sent to the BBC expressing grief at his passing.

Eclair was a regular contributor on Liquid News, a daily entertainment show, and a friend of Price's.

Price and Claire Sweeney hosted Song for Europe

She will host a five-hour special on the night of the contest.

Eclair will be joined by fellow comic Julia Morris, journalist Boyd Hilton, fashion designer Ben de Lisi and Eurovision expert Liam Jarnecki for coverage of the annual song contest.

The UK's last Eurovision winner, Katrina, will be singing her winning entry from 1997, Love Shine A Light.

A studio audience will also be asked what they think of the songs, outfits and performances of the competing countries.

The coverage will be dedicated to Christopher Price, who will be remembered at a memorial service at a London restaurant on the same day.

Tanel Padar earned a shock win for Estonia

This year's UK entry is sung by Pop Idol contestant Jessica Garlick and she among the favourites to win this year's event - Germany lead the field at 3/1 according to bookmaker Eurobet.

The contest is famous for its "kitsch" factor - this year Slovenia will be represented by three transvestites and previous winners include Dana International, a transsexual from Israel.

This year's event is in Tallinn after duo Tanel Padar and Dave Benton earned Estonia their first ever victory in the contest in 2001.

More than 600 million around the world watch the event and the contest, which was set up in 1956, has television viewers in the participating countries making up the jury by phoning in their individual votes.

Terry Wogan will host coverage of the Eurovision on BBC One.