Take note

Remember these names. Licence-fee payers and Lord Patten. Their track record gives little clue to the likelihood that they are sleepers, put inside the BBC to bring the organisation down.

Katie Taylor, the BBC's head of entertainment and events, said: "Not since the 70s have we had such an established international musical legend represent the nation … Engelbert's experience leaves us in no doubt that he will be able to deliver a standout performance in front of 120 million viewers worldwide."

Derek McLean, the BBC's creative director of entertainment, said: "Engelbert has an incredible musical history and heritage, especially in the UK and Europe. He's working with some of the best people in music to come up with the UK's song for this year's Eurovision. We're very proud to have him on board."

• A correspondent with connections in Great Glen, Leicester, says Englebert occasionally joins locals for a game of golf. Some have noted that the great man's hearing is not what it was...