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A new documentary has claimed that Sir Cliff Richard lost out in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest because of a fix.

Producer Montse Fernandez Vila alleged that Spanish dictator Francisco Franco bought votes to ensure the Spanish entrant Massiel won the competition with the track 'La La La'.

Richard's song 'Congratulations', the favourite to win the music contest, came second.

Vila quotes Spanish TV presenter Jose Maria Inigo as saying: "It was a fix. Massiel won Eurovision with bought votes."

He claimed that Franco bribed judging panels to help boost Spain's international image. Eurovision no longer uses national juries and allows the public to vote.

Eurovision TV director Bjorn Erichsen said he couldn't "exclude" the possibility of a fix, but said there would be no investigation.

He told Reuters: "Just to make Cliff Richard a little happier and the Spanish winner a bit more unhappy?

"I don't think you should dig up old bodies to prove he was or wasn't the father. It's history."