The time has come – the Eurovision Song Contest is almost here for another year!
Just days before the start of the 2024 competition, The Fizz – formerly Bucks Fizz – revealed that Mike Nolan, one of the original members of the Eurovision-winning band, is leaving the line-up.
As people plan to celebrate the camp extravaganza with house parties and pub viewings across the country, the nation will be hoping that Olly Alexander has what it takes to bring victory home for the UK after Sam Ryder came second in 2022.
Could the former Years and Years singer do the unthinkable and break the UK’s relentless run of nil points and dismal defeats?
If so, he would be joining a very small circle of elite British pop acts to have conquered Europe, including Bucks Fizz. So when did they win Eurovision?
When did Bucks Fizz win Eurovision?
British pop group Bucks Fizz won Eurovision in 1981.
The group, who were actually formed specifically for the Eurovision Song Contest that very year, won with the song Making Your Mind Up.
Comprised of Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike and Jay Aston, the group formed in January 1981 and went on to storm Eurovision in their first year as an act, most notably receiving plenty of attention for the dance routine which accompanied the song, in which Mike and Bobby ripped the skirts off Cheryl and Jay to reveal much shorter short skirts.
Bucks Fizz won by a narrow margin of four points, with Germany a close second.
The single Making Your Mind Up became a huge worldwide success, though, selling around four million copies globally to date.
The group went on to have a successful career, earning three UK number one singles – Making Your Mind Up, The Land of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies.
They became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s.
How many times has the UK won Eurovision?
The UK has won the competition five times out of 63 attempts since 1957.
The last time was in 1997, when Love Shine a Light performed by Katrina and the Waves came out on top.
The full list of Eurovision winners for the UK are:
- 1967 – Sandie Shaw, Puppet on a String
- 1969 – Lulu, Boom Bang-a-Bang (four acts were actually tied at the top this year)
- 1976 – Brotherhood of Man, Save Your Kisses for Me
- 1981 – Bucks Fizz, Making Your Mind Up
- 1997 – Katrina and the Waves, Love Shine a Light
Since the last victory in 1997, the highest the UK has placed was second place in 1998., with Imaani’s Where Are You?
In 2002, Jessica Garlick was third with Come Back but the UK has mostly found themselves on the lower end of the leaderboard.
Since 1997, the UK has finished in dead last five times, including in 2021 when James Newman’s Embers picked up… nil points. The only act to get nil points.
No pressure, Olly.
MORE : Eurovision 2022: When is the final, where is it being held, and how can you watch in the UK?
MORE : Is Russia taking part in Eurovision this year?
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