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How Many Times Has The UK Won Eurovision?

How Many Times Has The UK Won Eurovision?

From Bucks Fizz to Lulu, Eurovision has launched the careers of several UK musicians

Laura Sanders

Laura Sanders

The Eurovision 2021 finals are upon us and that's got us wondering - how many times has the UK won this song contest? And which songs took us there?

This year, Ireland won't be winning for an eighth time as they were booted out along with Australia during the first round of semi-finals on Tuesday (18th May). We've also being treated to a performance from Flo Rida, much to people's confusion.

The UK has won Eurovision 5 times and this year, the UK's act James Newman could make it a sixth, you never know.

Here's a list of all the UK winners in Eurovision since the show started in 1956.

Sandie Shaw, 1967 - 'Puppet on a String'

11 years after the Eurovision song contest was launched, the UK finally won, and Sandy Shaw was responsible.

'Puppet on a String's' win made the UK host the following year and Shaw's version of the song hit number one in the charts.

Although Shaw wasn't a fan of the song herself, writing in her autobiography that she "hated it from the very first oompah to the final bang on the big bass drum. [She] was instinctively repelled by its sexist drivel and cuckoo-clock tune."

Sandy Shaw was awarded an MBE in 2017 for her services to music. She now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and practices psychotherapy - quite the change from being a number one singer.

Lulu, 1969 - 'Boom Bang-A-Bang'

In the only tie the competition had ever seen, Lulu had to split her winning title four ways with France, Spain and the Netherlands, because of the way the voting system worked and a lack of rules for this eventuality.

This Bang-er for the 1969 finale was recorded in French, Italian and German, but despite these efforts, it only ever reached number two in UK charts.

Lulu was awarded an OBE in 2000 by the Queen. The last we heard, the 60s sensation was living in London in 2019 with her niece and nephew.

Brotherhood of Man, 1976 - 'Save Your Kisses For Me'

Finishing 17 points ahead of France, Brotherhood of Man were the definite winners of the Eurovision song contest in 1981. The members were Martin Lee Nicky Stevens Lee Sheriden Sandra Stevens.

Their winning song, 'Save Your Kisses For Me' is still one of the most recognisable tunes to come from the competition and remains on of the biggest-selling Eurovision songs of all time.

No surprise that this song reached number 1 in the UK then. In addition, it was the band's only US hit, which earned a respectable 27th position on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.

Bucks Fizz, 1981 - 'Making Your Mind Up'

One of the nation's favourite Eurovision entries came from its 1981 winners. 'Making Your Mind Up' also came with some stellar dance moves and classic 80s pop-band outfits.

Did you know that this group was formed in 1981 specifically for Eurovision?

The group has Eurovision to thank for their successful career and they even set a trend with the skirt-rip routine, which has been copied by other Eurovision entries ever since.

Katrina and the Waves, 1997 - 'Love Shine a Light'

The last time the UK won Eurovision was in 1997, with Katrina and the Waves, who are best known for their hit 'Walking on Sunshine,' which instantly lifts the mood of anybody listening to it.

Apparently, the band only intended to come up with a song for Eurovision and had no intention of performing it themselves. But the promise of a record deal from Warner Brothers if they went through with it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

"Our song was quickly forgotten because we didn't have any sensational gimmick like Bucks Fizz," Katrina from the band told Metro.

"I thought the song was the gimmick because it was such a feel-good, lighters-in-the-air, cheesy number. It would have been embarrassing for it not to win. It had 'I am a winner' written all over it."

Despite winning the contest, Katrina isn't a fan of the show herself, calling it "a joke."

Who's won Eurovision the most times?

Ireland has won Eurovision the most with a record 7 times. Coming in joint-second are Luxembourg, France and the UK, which have all won 5 times. Sweden and the Netherlands have won 4 times.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Eurovision

Topics: UK News, Music, TV & Film, Eurovision