Gen Franco 'cheated Cliff Richards out of 1968 Eurovision title'

Cliff richard (TOI Photo)LONDON: India-born British crooner Cliff Richard was cheated out of success in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 after Gen Franco's regime rigged the contest, a documentary claims.
Spanish singer Massiel's 'La, La, La' pipped Cliff's hit song 'Congratulations' by one vote at the last minute in the contest which was held at London's Royal Albert Hall in April 1968.Now 40 years on, filmmaker Montse Fernandez Vila reveals in the documentary '1968. I lived through the Spanish May', that Spain's only ever Eurovision win was due to behind-the-scenes negotiations by TV executives from its state-run channel.
The filmmaker has claimed that the executives toured Europe offering cash and promising to buy TV series and enter into contract with unknown artists from other Eurovision member states to influence the vote. "There is evidence that votes were bought to secure a win for Massiel. The (Franco) regime was acutely aware of the need to improve their image (both at home and abroad)," the Daily Telegraph' quoted Villa as discussing .