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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."

KYLIE Minogue last night lured her seldom-seen parents into the spotlight as she received one of France's highest cultural honours.

Melburnians Ron and Carol Minogue joined their daughter as French Culture Minister Christine Albanel lavished praised on their daughter over her fight against breast cancer.

At a ceremony in Paris, Ms Albanel bestowed on the 39-year-old the title of Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters) and told her she was a "Midas of the international music scene who turns everything she touches into gold".

"I want to publicly salute the courage you showed by revealing publicly that you had breast cancer," the minister said. "Doctors now even go as far as saying there is a 'Kylie effect' that encourages young women to have regular checks."

Minogue kicks off a European concert tour in Paris today.

Past recipients of the French award include singers Bob Dylan and David Bowie and Hollywood stars George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

Minogue in December was decorated in the Queen's New Year honours list with an OBE.

She said she was "deeply honoured" to be given the French award.

"French culture has influenced me greatly and I have always had colossal respect for the arts and people of France."