MPs are launching an inquiry into the UK's recent poor performance at Eurovision to examine how the country selects its acts and songs.
Key facts
- •The UK has finished in last place or near the bottom in several recent Eurovision contests, including 2021, 2023, and 2024.
- •Sam Ryder’s second-place finish in 2022 is the only time the UK has placed higher than 15th in the last 15 years.
- •The UK last won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, who scored 227 points.
- •The committee’s inquiry will examine the BBC's selection process, including how acts are shortlisted and whether previous televised selection methods were effective.
- •The next Eurovision event is scheduled to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria.
The UK's recent performance in the Eurovision Song Contest is set to be scrutinized by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee. Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage announced the inquiry to investigate the selection process for UK entrants, citing a string of low placements in recent years. The committee plans to hold a hearing in the coming months to question BBC representatives and music industry experts regarding the criteria and methods used to choose the country's representatives.
By the numbers
Recent Performance and Selection Methods
The inquiry follows a series of disappointing results for the UK. In May, the act Look Mum No Computer finished in last place with one point. Previous years saw similar outcomes, with Mae Muller finishing second from bottom in 2023 and James Newman receiving 'nul points' in 2021. The only notable exception in the last 15 years was Sam Ryder, who placed second in 2022 with the song 'Space Man'. Currently, the BBC selects the UK's Eurovision act, sometimes in collaboration with record labels or management companies. The committee aims to determine how these shortlists are formed and whether the selection process contributes to the UK's recurring low rankings, despite the country's history of producing successful global artists.
Inquiry Scope and Future Recommendations
The upcoming hearing is part of the committee's 'State of Play' inquiry, which allows for public-requested evidence sessions. MPs intend to review various approaches used in the past, including the televised 'Eurovision: You Decide' show last held in 2019, which resulted in Michael Rice finishing last at the contest in Tel Aviv. While no specific date for the hearing has been set, the committee expects to gather both oral evidence and written submissions. Following the review, the committee may issue a report containing recommendations for the BBC regarding future participation strategies.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Entertainment & Arts.
