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Helga Vlahović: 1990 presenter has died

27 February 2012 at 20:12 CET

Helga Vlahović presented the 1990 edition of Europe's Favourite Tv Show along with Oliver Mlakar when it was staged in Zagreb, following Yugoslavia's win in the 1989 contest.

It wasn't her first association with the contest, as with her proficiency in English, she was the jury spokesperson for Yugoslavia on several occasions, including 1974, and perhaps most famously in the 1981 contest.

When she was asked for the votes by presenter Doireann Ni Bhriain, she replied after a lengthy delay; 'I don't have it!'. This cause much laughter in the audience, and with the international commentators, and has gone down in the history of the contest as one of its most memorable moments.

She made a further appearance in the contest, when in 1994 the jury spokespersons were seen in vision for the first time,  and it was Vlahović that announced the votes of the Croatian jury.

She started working for Zagreb Radio and Television in 1964, and she quickly became a regular presenter on many entertainment and musical programmes, and the morning talk show Good Day, Yugoslavia.

After the break up of Yugoslavia, Vlahović worked for the newly formed HRT channel in Croatia, and in 1996 had her own series on television, which covered health topics. After a career that had spanned over five decades she retired from broadcasting in 2006.

Her own health deteriorated when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and earlier this year she was admitted hospital. She leaves behind two daughters.

Eurovision.tv would like to offer their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Helga Vlahović.