BBC broadcaster Terry Wogan has admitted that the French will be hurt by their entry for this years Eurovision song contest, which is sung mainly in English.

Wogan, who has served as the host for the BBC’s coverage of the singing contest for over twenty years, said the French were “very very proud of their language”.

“It’s the thin end of the wedge here because the French insist that the Eurovision song contest is always conducted in three languages,” he told BBC 6 Music.

“But the French always insist that it be announced in French as well so they’re going to be very hurt about this.”

Wogan’s comments follow reports in the French media that claim that the country’s culture minister is outraged by the decision to allow Sebastien Tellier to represent the country.

Teller’s song, ‘Divine’, which features English lyrics, was selected by the French television channel France 3 earlier this year.

“Our fellow citizens don't understand why France is giving up defending its language in front of hundreds of millions of television viewers around the world,” MP François-Michel Gonnot told a meeting of the UMP party.

(by Jason Gregory)