The impossible has happened. Australia has been given the green light – a sequin-covered green flashing light with strobe interludes accompanied by a smoke machine and a euro-disco soundtrack – to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.

The Australian public, which has increasingly taken the show to heart, will also be able to vote.

It's apparently not a joke or a clerical error, although such an error could be excused given Austria, the nation which gave the world the 2014 winner, bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, is the host. Vienna is the city to be dipped in glitter and sparkles from May 20 to 24, with the final on May 23 in the Stadthalle arena going out to an estimated global audience of 195 million.