Well me and my friends had a blast at the UK national final at the Hammersmith Apollo on Friday 27 January. The event was broadcast live on BBC2, getting double the audience that the show got last year on BBC4. I thought it was a really good show, generally good performances and a great crowd. And we got to see both Alexander Rybak, Eurovision winner for Norway in 2009 (who opened the show) and the awesome Sophie Ellis-Bextor (a judge).

The winner was Welsh girl, Lucie Jones – a straw poll of our group after all 6 performed put her as our favourite, so we chimed with the overall result! 

Overseeing things was the lovely Mel “Great British Bake Off” Giedroyc  who we got to see at close quarters as she filmed the opening sequence of the show from within the crowd, very close to me and my friends. I think one of my friends could be seen on TV, but I don’t think I’m easily spottable! The view was good from where we were though as we were on the slope so no tall Eurovision fans blocking my view too much!

Enjoy these two vids and some pics we took (and thanks to Clive – a mattloveseurovision contributor – for some of those photos)! Also, a bit further down are some embedded YouTube videos you may enjoy – interviews with Lucie after her win and also footage from when she performed “Shady Lady” at West End Eurovision!

Images (click to enlarge)

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo (UK national final 2017)

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – beginning to fill up

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Q&A with Jan Ola Sand and Alexander Rybak

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Lucie Jones singing “Never Give Up on You”

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Mel Giedroyc preparing to film intro sequence

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Lucie Jones is announced as the winner

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Olivia Garcia singing “Freedom Hearts”

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Alexander Rybak singing “Fairytale”

Eurovision: You Decide at Hammersmith Apollo – Sophie Ellis-Bextor on judges’ panel

My video footage

Other videos of interest:

Lucie Jones interviewed on Graham Norton Show on BBC2 (day after winning national final):

Lucie Jones press conference straight after winning national final:

Lucie Jones performing “Shady Lady” as lead singer with Les Misérables cast at West End Eurovision 2011:

Lucie Jones performing “Never Give Up on You” at Eurovision: You Decide: