We finally get to a Big 5 country after a long gap from Germany and Spain and it’s our very own UK! Contrary to what many (younger) people might think, the UK is still the third most successful country (after Sweden and Ireland) and this year’s contest marks the UK’s 60th year of participation – it has not missed a contest since 1959, the longest run of uninterrupted Eurovision appearances of any country. Last year Joe and Jake’s upbeat pop did quite well with the juries, but a disappointing televote left the UK in the bottom 5 – can the lovely Lucie Jones return us to former glory?

I am genuinely really pleased to see the UK finish so high in this chart – it may not necessarily reflect in how we perform in the final but it’s so refreshing not to be in the sub-26 positions as we have been the last two years I’ve done this YouTube ranking-based countdown! Consensus seems to be that at the very least this won’t finish last, and unlikely to be bottom 5 either. Top 10 might be ambitious, but we’re in with a shout of left-hand side of board at least.

The lovely and charming Lucie Jones will be singing for the UK, having won the UK’s national final (I was there!) with a haunting ballad, of which former Eurovision winner Emmelie de Forest (Denmark, 2013) is one of the songwriters. Lucie’s X Factor days are several years in the past, and it’s in the world of musical theatre that she’s been focussing on in the past few years, appearing in a number of shows, most recently in a UK-wide tour or Rent.

I really liked the original song but they absolutely nailed the revamp of this – it’s haunting, powerful, modern sounding but classic, and builds up gradually through the song rather than being repetitive. One thing we can be absolutely certain of is that she will give an impressive and emotive live vocal – she sings live to an audience every day and having seen her twice live, I can vouch for that. Fingers crossed they give her some impressive as she and the song deserve it!

I’ve added a couple of bonus media items at bottom of this page – the 7th Heaven dance remix of “Never Give Up on You” which both Lucie and her dad (!) have said they really like. Me and my friends certainly enjoy it when it comes on at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I’ve also popped a picture of me with Lucie and Nicki French from the meet and greet at the London Eurovision Preview Party – I was completely tongue tied though when I met them!

Mum’s reaction: no comment

Official music video:

Live at London Eurovision Preview Party:

United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 1957

Appearances (excluding this year): 59

Best result: Winner 1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997

Last year’s result: 24th

Bonus version – the 7th Heaven remix

Me with Lucie Jones and Nicki French at the London Eurovision Preview Party: