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| Eurovision: Where has the UK gone wrong in the past? | Eurovision: Where has the UK gone wrong in the past? |
| (2 months later) | |
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| Amy Wadge co-wrote Space Man in a video call | Amy Wadge co-wrote Space Man in a video call |
| Amy Wadge co-wrote Space Man in a video call | |
| The UK hasn't taken Eurovision seriously but that is changing, a co-writer of this year's entry has said. | The UK hasn't taken Eurovision seriously but that is changing, a co-writer of this year's entry has said. |
| Amy Wadge said although some think the UK's lack of success it due to politics, in reality not enough effort has been made. | Amy Wadge said although some think the UK's lack of success it due to politics, in reality not enough effort has been made. |
| Sam Ryder will sing Space Man at this year's event hosted in Turin, Italy, | Sam Ryder will sing Space Man at this year's event hosted in Turin, Italy, |
| The song was written over Zoom and Amy was initially "sceptical" about it being performed at Eurovision as Space Man is about to be seen by millions. | The song was written over Zoom and Amy was initially "sceptical" about it being performed at Eurovision as Space Man is about to be seen by millions. |
| On Thursday, the second semi-final took place to determine which 26 counties compete in Saturday's final. | On Thursday, the second semi-final took place to determine which 26 counties compete in Saturday's final. |
| When a president tried to intervene in Eurovision... | When a president tried to intervene in Eurovision... |
| How Eurovision is bringing Europe together again | How Eurovision is bringing Europe together again |
| Who will win Eurovision? | Who will win Eurovision? |
| Grammy Award winner Amy, who lives in Rhondda Cynon Taf, co-wrote Thinking Out Loud with Ed Sheeran and previously worked with artists such as Camila Cabello and Bonnie Tyler. | Grammy Award winner Amy, who lives in Rhondda Cynon Taf, co-wrote Thinking Out Loud with Ed Sheeran and previously worked with artists such as Camila Cabello and Bonnie Tyler. |
| She has been working with TikTok star Sam Ryder for 18 months and co-wrote Space Man with him and Max Wolfgang. | She has been working with TikTok star Sam Ryder for 18 months and co-wrote Space Man with him and Max Wolfgang. |
| This year, TikTok star Sam Ryder hopes to break the UK's losing streak | This year, TikTok star Sam Ryder hopes to break the UK's losing streak |
| "My initial reaction was like, 'that's a bit of a curveball'," said Amy. | "My initial reaction was like, 'that's a bit of a curveball'," said Amy. |
| "But I think that the UK has really embraced the opportunity and having 200 million people seeing a song is huge and I think that Sam is such a great ambassador for it because he truly loves the Eurovision songs. | "But I think that the UK has really embraced the opportunity and having 200 million people seeing a song is huge and I think that Sam is such a great ambassador for it because he truly loves the Eurovision songs. |
| "It is an amazing spectacle however you look at it, and I hope that at the very least, we've reconfigured people's thoughts [to think] 'let's go for it and let's enjoy it'." | "It is an amazing spectacle however you look at it, and I hope that at the very least, we've reconfigured people's thoughts [to think] 'let's go for it and let's enjoy it'." |
| She hopes Sam's "infectious" love for Eurovision will change the way people view the competition. | She hopes Sam's "infectious" love for Eurovision will change the way people view the competition. |
| She said it has been considered a "bit of a joke", but "if you look back, the songs have been really great". | She said it has been considered a "bit of a joke", but "if you look back, the songs have been really great". |
| "James Newman is a friend of mine, he wrote a great song last year, but there was not all the framework around it to elevate it. | "James Newman is a friend of mine, he wrote a great song last year, but there was not all the framework around it to elevate it. |
| "Actually back in the day with Katrina and the Waves, Michael Ball, etc all did very well because we understood we should throw our best at it." | "Actually back in the day with Katrina and the Waves, Michael Ball, etc all did very well because we understood we should throw our best at it." |
| How well does the UK do in Eurovision? | How well does the UK do in Eurovision? |
| The UK has taken part in 63 Eurovision contests since 1957. It has won the competition five times, including its last win in 1997. | The UK has taken part in 63 Eurovision contests since 1957. It has won the competition five times, including its last win in 1997. |
| Critics have said the UK's lack of recent success is due to politics, but Eurovision organisers point out that judges sign a document agreeing to vote independently. | Critics have said the UK's lack of recent success is due to politics, but Eurovision organisers point out that judges sign a document agreeing to vote independently. |
| James Newman's song Embers got ranked 11th and 13th out of 26 through jury points by Poland and the Czech Republic | James Newman's song Embers got ranked 11th and 13th out of 26 through jury points by Poland and the Czech Republic |
| Amy believes that view is a bit "paranoid" and the quality of acts competing is always going to make it a challenge. | Amy believes that view is a bit "paranoid" and the quality of acts competing is always going to make it a challenge. |
| "There's some great artists with great songs and we as the UK just need to go and be proud of who we are and just be accepted," she said. | "There's some great artists with great songs and we as the UK just need to go and be proud of who we are and just be accepted," she said. |
| In 2021, the UK received no points from the jury or the public - the same as in the previous final in 2019. | In 2021, the UK received no points from the jury or the public - the same as in the previous final in 2019. |
| In fact, the UK hasn't seen the top 10 since 2009 or even in the top half of the leader board since 2011. | In fact, the UK hasn't seen the top 10 since 2009 or even in the top half of the leader board since 2011. |
| Bucks Fizz became 1980s stars after their 1981 Eurovision win | Bucks Fizz became 1980s stars after their 1981 Eurovision win |
| However, it is not all doom and gloom when it comes to the UK's performance at Eurovision. | However, it is not all doom and gloom when it comes to the UK's performance at Eurovision. |
| In fact, some big names have come out of the other side, including winners Bucks Fizz in 1981 and Lulu in 1969. | In fact, some big names have come out of the other side, including winners Bucks Fizz in 1981 and Lulu in 1969. |
| Warning: Third party content may contain adverts | Warning: Third party content may contain adverts |
| Runners up have also seen success - have you ever heard of Sir Cliff Richard? | Runners up have also seen success - have you ever heard of Sir Cliff Richard? |
| Coming second in 1968, he has sold more than 250 million albums in his 50-year career. | Coming second in 1968, he has sold more than 250 million albums in his 50-year career. |
| Amy said, despite working on the UK entry, she was "rooting for Ukraine" because of "a really great song and what they are going through as a country". | Amy said, despite working on the UK entry, she was "rooting for Ukraine" because of "a really great song and what they are going through as a country". |
| Ukraine last won in 2016 but Kalush Orchestra are hoping for another win - pointing out they were the fifth favourites to win before the invasion | Ukraine last won in 2016 but Kalush Orchestra are hoping for another win - pointing out they were the fifth favourites to win before the invasion |
| After Turin at the weekend, Amy will be flying to LA but the songwriter to the stars said her home in the valleys was where she wants to be. | After Turin at the weekend, Amy will be flying to LA but the songwriter to the stars said her home in the valleys was where she wants to be. |
| "I truly adore the people here and I'm in a fortunate position where I can think of what financially I can do to help." | "I truly adore the people here and I'm in a fortunate position where I can think of what financially I can do to help." |
| As part of that thinking she's collaborated with Michael Ball OBE to write the song Million Lights for the charity 2wish. All proceeds will go to the Welsh child bereavement charity. | As part of that thinking she's collaborated with Michael Ball OBE to write the song Million Lights for the charity 2wish. All proceeds will go to the Welsh child bereavement charity. |
| "For whatever reason over the last couple of years I have got to know people who have gone through child loss and I am affiliated with a couple of charities… as a mother you're going to feel some connection". | "For whatever reason over the last couple of years I have got to know people who have gone through child loss and I am affiliated with a couple of charities… as a mother you're going to feel some connection". |
| Watch the Eurovision Song Contest Final on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 20:00 BST on Saturday 14 May | Watch the Eurovision Song Contest Final on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 20:00 BST on Saturday 14 May |