Eurovision To Reintroduce Juries To Stop Neighbourly Voting

The winner of next year's Eurovision song contest will be decided by public vote and members of a specially selected jury, organisers have confirmed.

The song contest's decision to re-introduce juries follows criticism that certain countries have adopted neighbourly voting.

The jury will consist of a panel from each country – although it's not yet been decided how their decision will be split alongside the public vote.

"Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times before they make up their minds,”  Eurovision's executive supervisor, Svante Stockelius, said.

"We believe a combination will make the show more interesting."

The United Kingdom is one of the countries to have been most affected by the introduction of a  public vote, which this year crowned Russia winners.

The UK's 2008 entrant, Andy Abrahams, only received points from San Marino and Ireland.