Just an observation but the phone calls aren't free. The BBC makes money out of the phone calls so everyone voting is paying their way (and actually helping to subsidise the licence fee for everyone else!)

Not getting involved in the main debate but just to put things right, the BBC cannot make any money from phonelines. It is against the charter.

If you ring up, than part of your money goes to BT, part goes to the company that counts the votes, and the rest goes to the relevant charity. If you ring from a moblie, you get switching charges (purely a mobile network thing).

The BBC make no money from phone votes and cannot do so.

that's right.

I really don't know who makes what, but I did read somewhere that only those who contribute to the BBC via a tv licence are eligible to vote.

Is this true?

To answer the OP I see no reason why non UK nationals should be excluded from these competitions - participation should be based on talent imo.

Agreed this is highly unlikely in the States for example - but much as I love our American cousins I do find them rather parochial when it comes to non US talent - if we indulge in tit for tat we could risk losing the opportunity of discovering new talent is always exciting. Nationality should never be a barrier.

She's American by nationality, so is Michael Johns, the Australian, they both hold dual citizenship. They couldn't appear on TV for so long on an American contract and be in the tour for which they will be paid without the right to reside and work in the USA.

I think the nationality issue for IDA is neither here nor there: if you can't sound like a cockney and sing well enough, you won't win. If you can and you're a good singer and actress then we won't notice it in your performance.

Dont think that`s true because I know someone who voted doesnt own a tv licence

Not sure how to take that one - it because he/she doesn't bother buying one - or because they live outside the UK.

I think the poster meant that, theoretically at least, UK residents should hold a tv licence.

Would have been our loss

Dave