MySQL Connector .NET & Unicode

I am having some serious issues trying to get MySql Connector for .NET to insert unicode text into the database. I have read so many forums on this and none of the fixes seems to work. I have tried all fo the following and various combinations thereof:

- Append ;charset=utf8 to connection string
- Append ;charac开发者_开发技巧ter set=utf8 to connection string
- Use 'N' prefix (although, I believe this is for MsSql only, but was worth a try)
- Set utf8 collations for database, table and columns
- Issue this command: SET NAMES UTF8
- Issue this command: SET CHARACTER SET UTF8
- Tried both Direct ad-hoc query and MySqlParameter as ways to insert

I am using MySqlConnector 6.4.3 and no matter what I do, I cannot get this wretched thing to work. I'm about to lose my mind...

Anyone had a similar issue and fixed it??

Many thanks in advance

Matt