DESPITE the bookies' odds widening on the UK's Daz Sampson winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens he is talking up his chances of pulling off a famous victory .

The contest is set to be watched by up to 600 million TV viewers from across Europe, Australia and Latin America.

During a hectic series of dress rehearsals Stockport's Daz and his Surrey-based five "schoolgirl" dance team have been performing Teenage Life to Euro crazy fans from every part of the globe.

Daz, whose odds with one bookie have lengthened to 12/1 said: "The reaction from the fans out here has been absolutely phenomenal. The first time we went on stage the girls were absolutely brilliant and it was a great performance all round. Essentially, the aim was to be blow the audience away and I think we succeeded.

"However, we didn't want to peak too soon and we were determined to save something special for the final performance tonight."

Daz, who was recently signed by pop guru Pete Waterman, was in the Olympic Arena on Thursday when the semi-final threw up some shock results for the 23 teams competing for ten places in Saturday's 24-country final.

Dark horses Lithuania were roundly booed by the 13,500 audience when their song "We Are The Winners" was given a final place. While Belgium, Cyprus and Iceland represented by glittering tear stained diva Sylvia Night were the big losers

Meanwhile, Daz is hoping for plenty of good luck messages from friends and family, and his brother Peter, from Davenport, who flew to Athens to lend moral support.

Daz adds: "I know the result is in the lap of the gods and after some of the surprises in Thursday's semis, anything and anyone can win. I would love it to be the UK's turn this time."

• DAZ takes to the stage tomorrow night (Saturday) - let us know what you think of his performance afterwards by clicking on 'Submit your comments' below.

Tweet