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| United Kingdom | |
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| Member station | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
|---|---|
| National selection events | Eurovision: Your Country Needs You |
| Appearances | |
| Appearances | 51 |
| First appearance | 1957 |
| Best result | 1st, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997 |
| Worst result | Last, 2003, 2008 |
| External links | |
| BBC page | |
| United Kingdom's page at Eurovision.tv | |
The United Kingdom first participated at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957, the second contest. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had wanted to take part in the first contest in 1956, but had submitted their entry to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) after the deadline had passed. The United Kingdom have the longest unbroken participation record in the contest, having appeared in the final every year since 1959 (missing the first contest and withdrawing from the 1958 contest).[1] Only Germany has participated in more contests.
In 1999 a rule change allowed the United Kingdom, along with France, Germany and Spain automatically qualify for the next year's final irrespective of their recent scores due to being the highest-paying EBU subscribers. In 2008 it was rumoured that the "Big 4" as they are known, would lose their automatic qualification, and would have to compete in the semi-finals for the first time..[2] However it was annouced by the EBU that the "Big 4" will still compete in the final of the 2009 contest without having to qualify through the semi-final.[3]
Up to and including 1998 the UK had almost always been in the top 10. Since then, with the exception of 2002, the record has been much worse, with none of their entries making it into the top 10. The infamous 2003 "nul points" result was the first time that the UK had come last in the contest, something that was then repeated in 2008. In the 2007 contest only two countries, Malta and Ireland, awarded the UK entry any points, with Malta awarding the maximum score of twelve points for the Scooch entry "Flying the Flag (For You)". It has later been stated this was a protest against the dominance of Eastern European countries.[citation needed] Only the Irish entry received a lower points total in that year. The elimination of language restrictions in 1999 saw the UK, along with Malta and Ireland, lose the advantage of being the only countries able to send songs sung in English.
It was reported in February 2008 that there is nothing to prevent Scotland taking part in the Eurovision[4] which may also lead to separate entries for England, Wales and Northern Ireland rather than a United Kingdom entry. However, the EBU has reported that there are 'no discussions' about the possibility and the BBC have the contract to submit a UK entry which they have no plans to end.[5] On 26 May 2008, the BBC announced it would participate in Eurovision Song Contest 2009 as the UK.[6][7]
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The UK has by far the best cumulative points record of any country in the contest, having won it five times (second only to Ireland's seven), and by coming second fifteen times.
Until 2004, the UK also had the record for the largest number of points scored in a single contest, in 1997 with the runaway winner 'Love Shine A Light' which scored 227 points. However, in 1997, only 25 countries voted, whilst in 2004, when the points record was broken, 36 countries voted. The UK still holds the record for winning by the largest margin, 70 points, which was also in the 1997 contest.
In 1976 the UK received 164 points from 17 countries, which gave them an average of 9.64 points per country; this record has yet to be broken by any other country.
The UK also holds the record of having hosted the event the most times: 8. Even though the UK has won the contest 5 times, it has also stepped in when other countries turned down the chance to host it. Ireland has hosted the event 7 times due to their 7 wins.
The UK holds the record for receiving the most set of 12 points in one show. They received 10 sets of twelve points in 1997, however they share this record with Greece who also received 10 sets of twelve points in 2005. However, it is hard to compare these two years, as 25 countries voted in 1997 and 39 countries in 2005. [1]
† In a 2008 Spanish documentary, film-maker Montse Fernandez Vila alleged that vote-rigging by Francisco Franco is the reason that Cliff Richard's "Congratulations" did not win the contest (it lost out by 1 vote).[8] See also: Allegations of vote-rigging in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest
Before 2003, the United Kingdom benefited regularly from political voting from its former colonies; Ireland, Malta and to a lesser degree Cyprus and Israel. However, since 2003 when the United Kingdom got the infamous "nul points", when all countries failed to give the United Kingdom even 1 point, Ireland is the only country that regularly gives the United Kingdom points.
The United Kingdom has given the most points to...
| Rank | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ireland |
187 |
| 2 |  Sweden |
143 |
| 3 |  Germany |
127 |
| 4 |  Switzerland |
112 |
| 5 |  Greece |
101 |
The United Kingdom has received the most points from...
| Rank | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Austria |
167 |
| 2 | Ireland |
152 |
| 3 | .svg){kind=small} Belgium |
145 |
| 4 |  Portugal |
143 |
| 5 |  France |
141 |
Over the years BBC commentary has been provided by several experienced radio and television presenters, including Tom Fleming, David Vine, David Jacobs, Dave Lee Travis, Pete Murray, John Dunn and Michael Aspel. However Terry Wogan has provided BBC commentary every year since 1980.[9]
Scotland planned on making their Eurovision debut in the 2009 contest. For several years the Scottish National Party (SNP) has campaigned for a place in Eurovision for Scotland but had been rejected numerous times due to the fact that Scotland is represented as a part of the UK and is represented by the BBC.[10]
On 11 February 2008 the EBU stated that a Scottish broadcaster could apply for EBU membership, but under the current rules could not enter the Eurovision contest as the BBC currently has exclusive rights to represent the entire United Kingdom.[10]
Scotland could be represented by STV, Border TV or BBC Scotland. MEP Alan Smyth had said in the European Parliament "Other small countries have done it [entered the competition] and I will be happy to help any of the broadcasting companies through the progress."[11][12][13][14]
If Scotland were to participate, however, it is unsure whether or not Wales and Northern Ireland would show any interest in entering Eurovision although S4C (the Welsh language media channel) has expressed an interest, and in addition already hold a yearly national song contest called "Cân i Gymru" (Song for Wales)[15].
However it was announced in late May 2008 that the UK would be participating in 2009, therefore Scotland will not be participating in 2009 as a separate entrant.[16]
It was confirmed on August 12, 2008, that Terry Wogan will no longer present the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK. The BBC Radio 2 DJ who has fronted the BBC's coverage for 37 years, said it was "time for someone else to take over". [17]
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