After returning to London for a glitzy pre-Eurovision promotional event at Café de Paris on Sunday night, Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft recalled their first trip to Israel. Woolford, 21, said: "We had an incredible time, the passion of the Israeli people and their love for Eurovision really stood out.
"We planted a tree in the JNF forest near Jerusalem. It was a pretty amazing experience. Everyone was so welcoming."
The duo, who met as contestants on BBC show The Voice, also spent time with Hovi Star, who will represent Israel in Eurovision and sing Made of Stars. He will have to qualify via a semi-final, while Joe and Jake automatically go through to the final on May 14.
"We hung out with Hovi, he is a good laugh," Shakeshaft, 20, said. "We like the song and think it could do well."
The bookies disagree. Both the British and Israeli acts are 100-1 outsiders.
A better bet may be France's entry, Amir Haddad, who is second-favourite behind Russia. The 31-year-old made aliyah from Paris aged eight and settled in Herzliya. After dabbling with the idea of becoming either a doctor - like his father - or a dentist, Haddad entered reality show Kochav Nolad (based on the Pop Idol format) in 2006 and went on to take part in the final stages of the series.
Two years ago he finished third in France's version of The Voice and will now represent his birth country at Eurovision.
"I am honoured," he said. "They have put their faith in me as a relative unknown in the music industry. It's great to perform my song, J'ai Cherche (I searched) here in London.
"My sister used to live here, so I would come and visit every two months. I had sung in Western Marble Arch Synagogue on one of my visits. That was very memorable. I think they liked me as they have asked me to go back and sing again."
Amir said he was "overwhelmed" by the thought of taking part in the continent's most popular annual music contest. "Warner Records, who have signed me, said I have far exceeded what they were expecting, so win or lose I should be making more music after this contest."
