Last updated 11:37, Tuesday, 13 May 2008

SIR Cliff Richard’s most enduring – and irritating – moan is that the BBC doesn’t give any air time to his songs... that’s suddenly the least of his worries.

It emerges now that Spain’s fascist dictator General Franco rigged voting in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest to knock Congratulations, penned by Derry songwriter Phil Coulter, from its rightful winning spot.

This bizarre insight into the mind of one of the 20th century’s cruellest rulers has been uncovered by a Spanish TV documentary team.

Apparently Franco, the only man ever to take the contest seriously, thought a Spanish win would improve his country’s international reputation. To secure that personal pride for every Spaniard, he ensured his country’s entry La La La was victorious.

The skullduggery might have worked, had not every song Sir Cliff ever recorded not been remembered as a La La La.