Nul points could become a thing of the past at the Eurovision Song Contest.

This year’s countrywide sing-off is changing the presentation of the ballot results in an attempt to keep viewer interest until the bitter end.

For the first time, the professional juries and the public voters from each country will both award a set of points from one to eight, 10 and 12 for the top 10 places. Both sets of points would then be combined. With twice as many points to be awarded, the chance of ending up with zero points is lower than ever.

The show will unveil the results in two parts. After the jury points from each of the 43 participating countries have been awarded by each national spokesperson, the televoting points from all participating countries will be combined.

The scores will then be presented by the show’s hosts, starting at the bottom of the scoreboard and working their way to the top, building up towards the hoped-for climax.

Eurovision Song Contest: UK act Jemini receive nul points in 2003

In previous years the results from each country’s industry expert jury and viewers have been presented to viewers on the night as a combined result, each accounting for 50%.

The organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, describe the changes as the biggest since 1975, the year Teach-In won it for the Netherlands with Ding-a-Dong.

For several years, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest has been known well before the end of voting as mathematically no other act could catch up.

Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said the changes are an attempt to keep the contest “relevant and in pace with shifting media trends”.

“The change will lead to a more dynamic voting sequence and keep the suspense and entertainment levels high right until the end of the voting,” said Sand.

Last year’s Eurovision Song Contest hit the headlines after extending an invitation to Australia to participate as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations.

Australia managed a fifth-place finish at the show won by Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow.

The last British winner was Katrina and the Waves in 1997 with Love Shine a Light.

The UK suffered the ignominy of nul points in 2003 when pop duo Jemini failed to impress the judges with Cry Baby.