Olivia and Eurovision - Det Nye

Translation:

By Bjørn Granvolden:

England's singer in the Eurovision on April 6th for the Eurovision final in Brighton.

DET NYE meets Olivia Newton-John – England's representative in the competition - Let me make it clear: I am NOT dating Cliff Richard!

Olivia Newton-John is considered to be the prettiest girl in the industry. DET NYE met her at her agent's in London. And she's pretty. Just as pretty as the last time we met her.

Thanks for last time, she says and smiles recognisably. You're from DET NYE in Norway, right? It's been a while since the last time

She takes us up to the second floor where there's a nice living room. This is where Cliff and I usually receive guests, she says as she shows us in.

Oh yeah, you guys still hang out? - Cut it out!! We have the same agent, and we're still just great friends. Just? YES!! Honestly, I'm getting pretty tired of all the speculation in the magazines about us as a couple. If you absolutely must know the truth, I'm with a guy who's in a completely different industry than me. Oh yeah. Who is he? That's all you'll get out of me in that regard. I won't say more.

OK? Yes, we understand that you would like to keep your greatest love to yourself. Good, Olivia says with a satisfied expression. It's not so easy to stay on top - in this fierce competition and on top of it all be seriously in love. That's why I keep work and leisure strictly separate. In private, we have arranged ourselves so that we try to live as normally as possible. That's the the only solution if our relationship is to last.

At home I cook, wash floors, make beds and everything that all other housewives do. The only difference is that I would rather not look like an ordinary housewife when I perform. Then I will be a professional singer.

What is your opinion of the Eurovision - to be completely honest? A lot has been written both for and against the event. I think it is a great opportunity to meet singers from so many different countries, to get together and exchange opinions and ideas. If you consider the whole thing as a sport where the point is primarily to participate and not to win, then you can gain a lot of experience.

She thinks about it for a while: There is only one thing I would like to change about this year's Eurovision, that it was held somewhere other than here at home in England.

Why is that? - I am the only participant who does not get a trip abroad!!

Ah, there has been no shortage of travel lately - No, I have just returned from a tour in Australia with Cliff Richard.

Was the tour successful? - Yes, very much so!! I lived in Australia from the age of five until I was fifteen, so it was like coming back to old times. I especially appreciated meeting old friends from the time I lived there. It was fun when old school friends came to greet me in the dressing room after the show... By the way, it's a bit strange to see how a group grows apart like that in a few years,

She continues a bit wistfully. I remember that after a concert in Melbourne my old English teacher came to greet me in the locker room. Then she showed up with a walking stick and a flower tassel in her hat, and had the expression on her face that a 75-year-old teacher of the old school usually has. I was a little scared when I saw her, because that was the teacher I had tremendous respect for at school. Now it's going to break loose, I thought as she fixed her gaze sharply on me. But no, she had a big smile and everything was just great! Just before she left, I had to promise her never to misuse my language.

So that's the end of swearing, now? - Well, I've never been one to throw swear words around, even if a word leaks out now and then. So I don't think that's what she meant. She probably thought of this in terms of correct language, pronunciation and such.

How do the fans react to concerts? - Oh, they're all very nice, and I really appreciate all the attention. As far as I can, I try to answer letters too. But there is one admirer I have problems with. There is a man of about fifty - yes, maybe sixty - who sends me expensive gifts and flowers every week. He sits in the front row every time I give a concert here in London. I am a little worried about all these gifts he sends. If only he would just settle for that! But he doesn't. He proposes every week too! I don't want to hurt the guy, either, but it's starting to get a little embarrassing.

You'll have to go on tour again then, you see - out of sight, out of mind, they say.

Tour, yes! Olivia lights up and says that she has received film offers from America, that she is negotiating tours, recordings and radio engagements.

And then I have three TV shows for the BBC around the same time as the Eurovision in Brighton, she adds, My own shows? - Yes, and they are all about love! I sing eight songs on each show and read poetry in between. It's fun, says Olivia.

Photo caption: Olivia's two favourites in this year's competition: England - and Norway! Olivia is a busy girl - at the same time as the Eurovision she is working on three TV shows for the BBC.

Photos: Peter Stuart