THE UK has had a chequered history of success at the Eurovision Song Contest.
In light of the fast-approaching Eurovision 2021 final, we take a look back at the UK’s entries over the years…
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Who will represent the UK in Eurovision 2021?
James Newman will be representing the United Kingdom at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest with his track Embers.
James was set to perform his track My Last Breath at last year’s final, but due to the pandemic, the 2020 show was cancelled.
He is best known for writing No1 hits including Waiting All Night by Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre and Blame by Calvin Harris ft. John Newman.
His other big singles are Lay It All On Me by Rudimental ft. Ed Sheeran, All I Am by Jess Glynne and Love Me Like You by Little Mix.
He has also written songs for Jessie Ware, Kesha, Olly Murs, Zayn, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and James Arthur.
Who are the previous entries?
2013 – Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album The World Starts Tonight and its singles Lost In France and More Than A Lover.
Tyler’s biggest hit is Total Eclipse Of The Heart, the lead single from her 1983 UK chart topping album Faster Than the Speed of Night.
Bonnie represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song Believe In Me and finished in 19th place.
2011 – Blue
Blue are a British boyband consisting of members Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe.
In late 2004, the band announced a hiatus but reunited in 2011 to represent the UK at Eurovision where they sang a song called I Can – finishing in 11th place with 100 points.
The boys have released some massive hits, which include All Rise, Too Close, If You Come Back and Fly By.
1997- Katrina and the Waves
The UK last triumphed at Eurovision in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves.
Their song was called Love Shine a Light and it received a whopping 227 points.
The band was formed of Katrina Leskanich, Kimberley Rew, Vince de la Cruz and Alex Cooper.
The band’s previously big hit was in 1985 with Walking on Sunshine.
1981 – Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz received the most points in 1981.
The four-piece, made up of Cheryl Baker, Bobby G, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, performed Making Your Mind Up, complete with colourful outfits and tearaway skirts.
The song was one of three of the band’s UK number one singles.
In 1985 Jay Aston quit the group to be replaced by Shelley Preston.
1976 – Brotherhood of Man
In 1976 Brotherhood of Man triumphed with Save Your Kisses For Me.
The contest took place in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
The song then became a worldwide hit and has remained one of the biggest selling Eurovision winner tracks ever.
1974 – Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John is a singer and actress best-known for playing Sandy in Grease
Her songs from the movie such as You’re The One That I Want, Summer Night and Hopelessly Devoted To You became smash hits.
In the 1974 Eurovision competition, she sang Long Live Love and finished in fourth place.
1968 + 1973 – Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard is one of the UK’s best-selling artists of all time.
His huge hits include Living Doll, Summer Holiday, Devil Woman, and We Don’t Talk Anymore.
In 1968, Cliff Richard sang the UK entry Congratulations, but lost by one point to Spain’s La La La.
His second appearance was at the 1973 contest, where he performed Power To All Our Friends and came in third place.
1969 – Lulu
Two years after Sandie’s win, Lulu triumphed in 1969 in Madrid.
Lulu sang Boom Bang-a-Bang but her win wasn’t without controversy.
Spain, The Netherlands and Spain tied with The UK on 18 points and there were no rules in place to decide an overall winner.
All four countries were declared winners but Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal did not participate in the 1970 Contest as a protest against the result the following year.
The rules were then changed to make sure the situation never happened again.
1967 – Sandie Shaw
The UK’s first ever winner was Sandie Shaw with the track Puppet on a String in 1967, which was hosted that year in Vienna.
Sandie was one of the most successful pop artists in the 1960s, with her Eurovision win the icing on the cake in that decade.
Sandie retired from performing in 2013.
Here is a full rundown of Britain’s entries since we first entered the competition in 1957, and where they placed:
- 1957 – Patricia Bredin – All (7th place)
- 1959 – Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson – Sing Little Birdie (2nd)
- 1960 – Bryan Johnson – Looking High, High, High
- 1961 – The Allisons – Are You Sure? (2nd)
- 1962 – Ronnie Carroll – Ring-a-ding Girl (4th)
- 1963 – Ronnie Carroll – Say Wonderful Things (4th)
- 1964- Matt Monro- I Love The Little Things (2nd)
- 1965 – Kathy Kirby – I Belong (2nd)
- 1966 – Kenneth McKellar – A Man Without Love (9th)
- 1967 – Sandie Shaw – Puppet On A String (WON)
- 1968 – Cliff Richard – Congratulations (2nd)
- 1969 – Lulu – Boom Bang-a-bang (1st)
- 1970 – Mary Hopkin – Knock, Knock (who’s There?) (2nd)
- 1971 – Clodagh Rodgers – Jack In The Box (4th)
- 1972 – The New Seekers – Beg, Steal Or Borrow (2nd)
- 1973 – Cliff Richard – Power To All Our Friends (3rd)
- 1974 – Olivia Newton-John – Long Live Love (4th)
- 1975 – The Shadows – Let Me Be The One (2nd)
- 1976 – Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses For Me (WON)
- 1977 – – Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran – Rock Bottom (2nd)
- 1978 – Co-Co – The Bad Old Days (11th)
- 1979 – Black Lace – Mary Ann (7th)
- 1980 – Prima Donna – Love Enough For Two (3rd)
- 1981 – Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up (WON)
- 1982 – Bardo – One Step Further (7th)
- 1983 – Sweet Dreams – ‘m Never Giving Up (6th)
- 1984 – Belle and the Devotions – Love Games (7th)
- 1985 – Vikki – Love Is… (4th)
- 1986 – Ryder – Runner In The Night (7th)
- 1987 – Rikki – Only The Light (13th)
- 1988 – Scott Fitzgerald – Go (2nd)
- 1989 – Live Report – Why Do I Always Get It Wrong (2nd)
- 1990- Emma – Give A Little Love Back To The World (6th)
- 1991 – Samantha Janus – A Message To Your Heart (10th)
- 1992 – Michael Ball – One Step Out Of Time (2nd)
- 1993 – Sonia- Better The Devil You Know (2nd)
- 1994 – Frances Ruffelle – Lonely Symphony ( 10th)
- 1995 – Love City Groove – Love City Groove (10th)
- 1996 – Gina G – Ooh…Aah…Just A Little Bit (8th)
- 1997 – Katrina and The Waves – Love Shine A Light (WON)
- 1998 – Imaani – Where Are You? (2nd)
- 1999 – Precious – Say It Again (12th)
- 2000 – Nicki French – Don’t Play That Song Again (16th)
- 2001 – Lindsay D – No Dream Impossible (15th)
- 2002 – Jessica Garlick – Come Back (3rd)
- 2003 – Jemini – Cry Baby (26th)
- 2004 – James Fox – Hold On To Our Love (16th)
- 2005 – Javine – Touch My Fire – (22nd)
- 2006 – Daz Sampson – Teenage Life (19th)
- 2007 – Scooch – Flying The Flag (for You) (22nd)
- 2008 – Andy Abraham – Even If (25th)
- 2009 – Jade Ewen – It’s My Time (5th)
- 2010 – Josh – That Sounds Good To Me (25th)
- 2011 – Blue – I Can (11th)
- 2012 – Engelbert Humperdinck – Love Will Set You Free (25th)
- 2013 – Bonnie Tyler – Believe In Me (19th)
- 2014 – Molly – Children of the Universe (17th)
- 2015 – Electro Velvet – Still In Love With You (24th)
- 2016 – Joe and Jake – You’re Not Alone – (24th)
- 2017 – Lucie Jones – Never Give Up On You – (15th)
- 2018 – SuRie – Storm (24th)
- 2019 – Michael Rice – Bigger Than Us (26th)
