Eurovision.tv spoke with Alberto Maeso, personal assistant to Ms. Carrà. "Dima Bilan will appear in tonight's show, and of course he will sing his winning Eurovision Song Contest song," Measo said. "Raffaella Carrà also hosted the national final in Spain, last year, and was very impressed by some of the singers and their songs. That is what she would like to show the Italian audience," he added.
The producers of the show are still negotiating with several other contestants from Belgrade. According to various sources, participants from Latvia, Israel and Greece are, amongst others, on the nomination to be invited to Rome!
Italy turned away from the song contest in 1998, and has not taken part ever since. Could Raffaella Carrà's initiative spark the country's interest and possibly lead to a come-back of broadcaster RAI in 2009? Measo doesn't know. Sietse Bakker, Manager Communications & PR of the Eurovision Song Contest, says: "It's a great initiative of Ms. Carrà, and good news for some of this year's Eurovision Song Contest participants. And by the way... Italy is still very much welcome to take part in the competition."
Speculations about Italy's come-back rise every year, so far not leading to a positive answer from Rome. With a subscription deadline until around the end of the year, anything can happen... To be continued?
