PARTICIPANTS- what artists are in the running for 2008
MAY 2007; Talk is already surfacing that Hande Yener has been approached by TRT to represent them at the 2008 contest. The 4th place finish of Kenan Dogulu must have excited the TV company chiefs! She has announced that she will finalise the contract in around 15 days. Hande is an experienced artist to say the least, with 7 albums released to date. Her career started in 2000 and she has been at the top of the charts in Turkey since then. The Turkish pop diva has also had some success in other countries.Link: watch Hande's latest song on youtube here
JUNE 2007; The drama that surrounds the selection of artists for next years Melodifestivalen has started as early as ever this year. It has been suggested, once again, that Helena Paparizou will enter this year's competition, this comes after Carola's indication to the media that she may enter and try to represent Sweden for the fourth time. There has also been some reports that Linda Rosing, of Swedish Big Brother fame, has been asked by Christer Bjorkman to sing a song at this year's festival. Who will represent Sweden at next year's? Only time will tell!Link: watch Linda Rosing's 'Summerlove' music video
UPDATE: Linda has told Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, that she wishes to compete in the UK national final rather than Melodifestivalen 2008. There has also been another name hinted at for a possible 2008 Swedish national final entry for Sibel Redzep. If this turns out to be true then she will be the third Swedish Idol participant to challenge for the Swedish Eurovision ticket.
JUNE 2007; Olinda Borggren's name has been connected with a possible participation in the 2008 edition of Norsk Melodi Grand Prix. The Swedish designer has had a lot of TV exposure in her home country and in America. She has released one single to date called 'Playboy bunny'.
JUNE 2007; Given statements that Paul De Leeuw has made on several occasions, saying that he would enter for the Netherlands if no-one else could be persuaded, and also that he was the one that coaxed Edsilia Rombley into a return to the Eurovision stage it is quite possible that we will see Paul De Leeuw in Belgrade next May. He is one of the most well known TV stars in the Netherlands.
JULY 2007; Silvia Nott just can't get enough of Eurovision it seems. Her name has again been linked with another possible participation for the north Atlantic island. Even though she lauched into one of the biggest sulks ever seen in Eurovision after not making it into the final in 2006. She is the queen of publicity, so expect anything! It has to be remembered though that Silvia is a character played by Augusta Eva Erlensdottir, so don't take it too seriously! 
JULY 2007; More rumours again for Sweden and Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest. The Swedish girl band Popsie has made their intentions to enter Melodifestivalen known. Not much else to say really!
JULY 2007; There are just so many rumours of possible national final participants flying about the place that I can't keep up with them. So I am just going to list them all from here on in.
Switzerland: Peach Weber
United Kingdom: Bill Bailey
Albania: Greta Koci & Soni
Belarus: Anzhelika Agurbash
Belgium: Steph Goossens
AUGUST 2007;
Turkey: Nez
Belgium: Eddy Wally X
Spain: La Prohibida
Israel: Dana International
Sweden: Avengers
Switzerland: Lys Assia
Belgium: Argo (Singing clown, with parrots!)
Denmark: Lizette Pålsson
SEPTEMBER 2007;
Sweden: Shirley Clamp
Sweden: Sonja Alden
Sweden: Jessica G. Pilnäs
United Kingdom: Nickki Grahame
Sweden: Magnus Bäcklund
Belgium: Katastroof
Netherlands: Bearforce1
Albania: Anjeza Shahini
OCTOBER 2007;
Sweden: Carola & Andreas Johnson
Sweden: Ann-Louise Hansson
Elisabeth Andreassen
Wenche Myhre
Shirley Clamp, Sonja Aldén and Sanna Nielsen
Måns Zelmerlöw X
Netherlands: Dries Roelvink
Germany: Juli
Belgium: La Sakhra
Geena Lisa
Udo
Wim Soutaer
Max
Wendy Van Wanten
Timo Descamps
Dean
Kim Buttafuoco
Pim
Ivann
Reborn
Betty
Sandrine
Tanja Dexters
Pat Krimson
Brahim
Jeason
Free Souffriau/Mega Mindy
Jan Schepens
Petra/La Sakhra
De Boebies
Hadise
Sergio
Portugal: Mickael Carreira
Switzerland: Gimma
Spain: Baltanas
NOVEMBER 2007;
Sweden: Thèrése Andersson
Sweden: Thorleifs
Switzerland: Florian Ast
Netherlands: Ben Cramer, Maggie MacNeal & Marcha
Belgium: Kaylie
X= no longer in the running
