Eurovision: Where every UK entry has reached on the Official Singles Chart

Eurovision is the most fabulous time of the year, and after being forced to cancel last year's contest, the event is shaping up to be double the fun in 2021.

This year's UK entry is Embers by James Newman; a neon-bright dance pop banger compared to his song My Last Breath from last year's cancelled event.

Ahead of this year's competition, which kicks off in Rotterdam on May 18 with the final on May 22, let's take a look at how every UK Eurovision entry has fared on the Official Chart. 

We first took part in 1957, but didn’t win until 1967, thanks to Sandie Shaw. Puppet On A String was also the first UK Eurovision song to top the Official Singles Chart, spending three weeks at Number 1.

Sandie Shaw, looking elated at getting the chance to perform at Eurovision in 1967. (Rex)

The UK has won Eurovision five times: 

Sandie Shaw with Puppet On A String in 1967
Lulu with Boom Bang-A-Bang in 1969
Brotherhood Of Man with Save Your Kisses For Me in 1976
Bucks Fizz with Making Your Mind Up in 1981
Katrina & The Waves with Love Shine A Light in 1997

Yep, we last won twenty four years ago. Only three of those five winners got to Number 1, however – it was bad news for Lulu and Katrina. Not to mention the Waves.

QUIZ: How well do you know your Eurovision?

If we're talking the UK’s lowest charting Eurovision entry so far, that's last year's track Bigger Than Us by Michael Rice. The Hartlepool lad's song was written by top Swedish songwriters who had Eurovision experience, but the fact one of the writers also competed against him and opted for a different song (which finished in fifth), that kind of says it all.

Aside from Patricia Bredin and Matt Monro's songs which weren't officially releases, Bigger Than Us is the first Eurovision song to miss the Official Singles Chart Top 200 altogether. Bigger Than Us placed last overall in the contest after only getting 11 points. Still, that’s better than Cry Baby by Jemini, which finished last in 2003 with nul points. Yes, a big fat nothing.

Remember, Jemini? How could we forget? They scored the UK's first-ever absolute zero (not even a sympathy point for turning up) in 2003 (Action Press/Rex)

Brotherhood Of Man’s Save All Your Kisses For Me is the UK’s biggest selling Eurovision entry of all time. It’s the only Eurovision song to sell over a million copies!

If you really want to geek out, the average chart position of a UK Eurovision track is Number 27, while the average Eurovision placing of a UK entrant is eighth. That said, the UK has finished second more times than any other country – 15 times the bridesmaid. 

MORE: Eurovision's highest charting songs in the UK

The complete list of the UK’s Eurovision tracks and Official Singles Chart positions is as follows:

© 2020 The Official Charts Company

Take a look at all the UK's Eurovision entries – yes, the whole lot – in our gallery:

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