The United Kingdom debuted in Eurovision in 1957 and has gone on to host the Song Contest, Young Dancers, Young Musicians and was the driving force behind the Dance Contest.
Find out more about Scotland and Wales‘ interest in Eurovision by clicking on the country name.
United Kingdom in Eurovision
The United Kingdom debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the contest. To date, the UK has won the contest a total of five times, with their first victory coming in 1967 and their latest in 1997.
The UK holds the record for the most second-place finishes in the contest, having been runner-up a total of 16 times. Since 2000 the UK has finished within the top 10 only three times, this being in 2002 with Jessica Garlick, 2009 with Jade Ewen and 2022 with Sam Ryder who finished 2nd in Turin.
- 1957 – Patricia Bredin – “All” – 7th – 6 points
- 1959 – Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson – “Sing Little Birdie” – 2nd – 16 points
- 1960 (Host – Netherlands declined to host) – Bryan Johnson – “Looking High, High, High” – 2nd – 25 points
- 1961 – The Allisons – “Are You Sure?” – 2nd – 24 points
- 1962 – Ronnie Carroll – “Ring -A-Ding Girl” – 4th – 10 points
- 1963 (Host – France declined to host) – Ronnie Carroll – “Say Wonderful Thing” – 4th – 28 points
- 1964 – Matt Monro – “I Love the Little Things” – 2nd – 17 points
- 1965 – Kathy Kirby – “I Belong” – 2nd – 26 points
- 1966 – Kenneth McKellar – “A Man Without Love” – 9th – 8 points
- 1967 – Sandie Shaw – “Puppet on a String” – 1st – 47 points
- 1968 (Host) – Cliff Richard – “Congratulations” – 2nd – 28 points
- 1969 – Lulu – “Boom Bang-a-Bang” – 1st – 18 points
- 1970 – Mary Hopking – “Knock, Knock (Who’s There?)” – 2nd – 26 points
- 1971 – Clodagh Rodgers – “Jack in the Box” – 4th – 98 points
- 1972 (Host – Monaco was unable to host) – The New Seekers – “Beg, Steal or Borrow” – 2nd – 144 points
- 1973 – Cliff Richard – “Power to All Our Friends” – 3rd – 123 points
- 1974 (Host – Luxembourg declined to host for a consecutive year) – Olivia Newton-John – “Long Live Love” – 4th – 14 points
- 1975 – The Shadows – “Let Me Be the One” – 2nd – 138 points
- 1976 – Brotherhood of Man – “Save Your Kisses for Me” – 1st – 164 points
- 1977 (Host) – Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran – “Rock Bottom” – 2nd – 121 points
- 1978 – Co-Co – “The Bad Old Days” – 11th – 61 points
- 1979 – Black Lace – “Mary Ann” – 7th – 73 points
- 1980 – Prima Donna – “Love Enough for Two” – 3rd – 106 points
- 1981 – Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up” – 1st – 136 points
- 1982 (Host) – Bardo – “One Step Further” – 7th – 76 points
- 1983 – Sweet Dreams – “I’m Never Giving Up” – 6th – 79 points
- 1984 – Belle and the Devotions – “Love Games” – 7th – 63 points
- 1985 – Vikki – “Love Is” – 4th – 100 points
- 1986 – Ruder – “Runner in the Night” – 7th – 72 points
- 1987 – Rikki – “Only the Light” – 13th – 47 points
- 1988 – Scott Fitzgerald – “Go” – 2nd – 136 points
- 1989 – Live Report – “Why Do I Always Get It Wrong” – 2nd – 130 points
- 1990 – Emma – “Give a Little Love Back to the World” – 6th – 87 points
- 1991 – Samantha Janus – “A Message to Your Heart” – 10th – 47 points
- 1992 – Michael Ball – “One Step Out of Time” – 2nd – 139 points
- 1993 – Sonia – “Better the Devil You Know” – 2nd – 164 points
- 1994 – Frances Ruffelle – “We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)” – 10th – 63 points
- 1995 – Love City Groove – “Love City Groove” – 10th – 76 points
- 1996 – Gina G – “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” – 8th – 77 points
- 1997 – Katrina and the Waves – “Love Shine a Light” – 1st – 227 points
- 1998 (Host) – Imaani – “Where Are You?” – 2nd – 166 points
- 1999 – Precious – “Say It Again” – 12th – 38 points
- 2000 – Nicki French – “Don’t Play That Song Again” – 16th – 28 points
- 2001 – Lindsay Dracass – “No Dream Impossible” – 15th – 28 points
- 2002 – Jessica Garlick – “Come Back” – 3rd – 111 points
- 2003 – Jemini – “Cry Baby” – 26th – 0 points
- 2004 – James Fox – “Hold On to Our Love” – 16th – 29 points
- 2005 – Javine – “Touch My Fire” – 22nd – 18 points
- 2006 – Daz Sampson – “Teenage Life” – 19th – 25 points
- 2007 – Scooch – “Flying the Flag (For You)” – 22nd – 19 points
- 2008 – Andy Abraham – “Even If” – 25th – 14 points
- 2009 – Jade Ewen – “It’s My Time” – 5th – 173 points
- 2010 – Josh Dubovie – “That Sounds Good to Me” – 25th – 10 points
- 2011 – Blue – “I Can” – 11th – 100 points
- 2012 – Engelbert Humperdinck – “Love Will Set You Free” – 25th – 12 points
- 2013 – Bonnie Tyler – “Believe in Me” – 19th – 23 points
- 2014 – Molly – “Children of the Universe” – 17th – 40 points
- 2015 – Electro Velvet – “Still in Love with You” – 24th – 5 points
- 2016 – Joe and Jake – “You’re Not Alone” – 24th – 62 points
- 2017 – Lucie Jones – “Never Give Up on You” – 15th – 11 points
- 2018 – SuRie – “Storm” – 24th – 48 points
- 2019 – Michael Rice – “Bigger than Us” – 26th – 11 points
- 2020 – James Newman – “My Last Breath” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
- 2021 – James Newman – “Embers” – 26th – 0 points
- 2022 – Sam Ryder – “Space Man” – 2nd – 466 points
- 2023 – Mae Muller – “I Wrote a Song” – 25th – 24 points
- 2024 – Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” – 18th – 46 points
- 2025 – Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” – 19th – 88 points
- 2026 – Look Mum No Computer – “Eins, Zwei, Drei” – 25th – 1 point
The BBC aired the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 despite not participating. In 1957, the United Kingdom missed the contest, the contest was aired on delay.
United Kingdom and other Eurovision family events
The United Kingdom has participated in nearly every Eurovision format, it has hosted numerous contests across the various formats.
Eurovision Choir
While the United Kingdom has not participated in Eurovision Choir, both Scotland and Wales competed in the contest, find out more by clicking on the country names.
Eurovision Dance Contest
The BBC was the host broadcaster for both editions of the Eurovision Dance Contest, having worked with the EBU to create the format off the back of the success of Strictly Come Dancing. The 2007 contest was hosted in London, while 2008 would see the contest held in Glasgow.
- 2007 – Camilla Dallerup and Brendan Cole – 15th – 18 points
- 2008 – Louisa Lytton and Vincent Simone – 9th – 47 points
You can watch the 2007 contest here and 2008 contest here.
Eurovision Young Dancers
The United Kingdom was one of eleven countries to take part in the first edition of the contest in 1985. The United Kingdom participated seven times, winning the contest once and hosting the 2001 contest in London.
- 1985 – Maria Almeida and Errol Pickford
- 1987 – Paul Liburd
- 1989 – Tetsuya Kumakawa – 1st
- 1999 – Lara Glew – Did not qualify for the final
- 2001 – Jamie Bond
- 2003 – Kate Lyons – Did not qualify for the final
- 2005 – Alex Jones
Eurovision Young Musicians
Eurovision Young Musicians was based on the BBC Young Musician competition, this saw the United Kingdom host the first edition of the contest in 1982. The contest would return to the United Kingdom in 2018 when Edinburgh hosted.
- 1982 (Host) – Anna Markland (Piano)
- 1984 – Anna Johnson (Clarinet) – 3rd
- 1986 – Alan Brind (Violin)
- 1988 – David Pyatt (Horn)
- 1990 – Nicola Loud (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1992 – Frederick Kempf (Piano)
- 1994 – Natalie Clein (Cello) – 1st
- 1996 – Rafal Zambrzycki Payne (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1998 – Adrian Spillett (Percussion) – 3rd
- 2000 – Guy Johnston (Cello) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2002 – Sarah Williamson (Clarinet) – 2nd
- 2004 – Nicola Benedetti (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2006 – Jennifer Pike (Violin)
- 2008 – Philip Achille (Harmonica)
- 2010 – Peter Moore (Trombone) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2018 (Host) – Maxim Calver (Cello) – Did not qualify for the final
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
The United Kingdom was one of sixteen countries to take part in the first edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003. Tom Morley’s “My Song for The World” finished in 3rd place in Copenhagen.
In 2004, ITV was due to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest but withdrew from hosting due to financial reasons. The United Kingdom’s participation in the contest was organised by ITV between 2003 and 2004, while the BBC took over from 2022 to 2023. In 2018 and 2019 Wales competed in the contest.
- 2003 – Tom Morley – “My Song for the World” – 3rd – 118 points
- 2004 – Cory Spedding – “The Best Is Yet to Come” – 2nd – 140 points
- 2005 – Joni Fuller – “How Does It Feel?” – 14th – 28 points
- 2022 – Freya Skye – “Lose My Head” – 5th – 146 points
- 2023 – Stand Uniqu3 – “Back to Life” – 4th – 160 points
Other Programs
The following shows were also broadcast in the United Kingdom:
- Songs of Europe – 1981
- Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits – 2015
- Eurovision Europe Shine a Light – 2020
United Kingdom & Other European Broadcasting Union Competitions
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières was organised by the European Broadcasting Union between 1965 and 1999, with thirty editions of the show held. The show saw broadcasters send teams to compete in a series of games, each broadcaster hosted one episode. The United Kingdom participated in sixteen editions of the show from 1967 to 1982.
Let the Peoples Sing
The contest was first held in 1961 by the BBC as an annual choral contest for choirs in the United Kingdom, since 1966 it has been a choral competition for choirs across Europe. Since the late 1970s, the European Broadcasting Union has organised the event with choirs allowed to compete from across the globe.
- 1995 – St David’s School Choir – Finalist
- 1999 – The Cantasmuc Choir – Equal Voice Category Finalist
- 2001 (Host – London) – Cantata Junior Choir – Children’s Category Finalists
- 2003 (Host – London) – Hosted by BBC Radio 3, no choirs from the United Kingdom qualified for the finals
- 2011 (Host – Salford) – Hosted by BBC Radio 3, no choirs from the United Kingdom qualified for the finals
- 2013 – Choralia – Wells Cathedral School – Finalist in the Children / Youth Category
- 2015 – Singers Limited – Finalist in the Open Category
- 2017 – Voices of Hope – Adult Category Finalist
- 2017 (Representing Jersey) – The Musical Originals Singers – Children / Youth Category finalist
- 2019 – Choralia – Wells Cathedral School – Finalist in the Children / Youth Category
- 2024 – Hosted the contest from London
During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.
Image Source: EBU / Corinne Cumming