I'm a Eurovision superfan and this is why the UK falls victim to the dreaded nil points

OPINION

It often feels like an uphill battle when it comes to the UK competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, and this year's entry hasn't provided much confidence for tonight's show final, especially if the latest odds are anything to go by. But will the country-pop trio representing the UK, Remember Monday, actually be remembered for all the right reasons? I do hope so. Despite their impressive strong vocals and tight harmonies, the group’s lacklustre song entry, What The Hell Happened, is pretty forgettable.

The UK is guaranteed a spot in the final thanks to its status as one of the “big five” countries that make the largest contribution to the event. And while we have been ridiculed for our performances, the UK has done considerably well in the competition. In its nearly 70-year history, the UK has won five times, and the last time we came close to winning Eurovision was in 2022, with TikTok star Sam Ryder. His song Space Man came in second place with a staggering 466 points.

Contrary to popular belief - the UK has only received “nul points” or “nil points” twice since Eurovision debuted in 1956. The unlucky recipients were Liverpool duo Jemini back in 2003. The shock result came after they performed their song Cry Baby. Bad luck struck the UK again with James Newman’s song Embers failing to win a single point in 2021.

The UK didn’t fare much better last year when Olly Alexander took to the stage with his song Dizzy. He received “nul points” in the public vote but was saved from last place by the jury vote with a low score of 46 points.

Over the years, there has been much discussion about why the UK has a hard time in the competition, with some suggesting it is down to Britain’s role in global politics. From Brexit to accusations of European countries’ "bloc voting”—where countries vote for their “friends” rather than talent—I believe the answer is much simpler.

The songs are pretty rubbish, dated, tuneless, and not memorable at all. Gone are the days of Bucks Fizz’s catchy hit Making Your Mind Up, which fans still sing four decades on. Sam Ryder also proved that a good song has the potential to go far in the competition. That is the only ingredient required to be a success at Eurovision.

With a nation full of musical talent that has produced some of the greatest artists in the world, it must not be that hard to find a relatively unknown performer who could end up making a splash at Eurovision. With a global audience of 200 million, they would get the much-needed exposure to potentially have a great career.

While I wish you, Remember Monday, the best of luck for tonight’s event, I’m hopeful we don’t suffer the same fate as previous years and at least get a decent showing on the leaderboard.