00:01The Eurovision Song Contest, a spectacle of music, unity and sometimes utter bewilderment for the United Kingdom.
00:10Now with the second semi-final about to take place tomorrow, May 15th if you're keeping count,
00:15and the UK's Remember Monday preparing for their first live performance,
00:19or have already undertaken it depending when you've seen this,
00:22the hopes of the nation are well high.
00:25But how have we actually fared in this iconic competition over the years?
00:29And yes I know I'm from New Zealand, but I'm talking about the colloquial WE.
00:34I'm living in the United Kingdom after all.
00:36Since the UK's debut, excluding the years that they sat out,
00:40they have amassed a respectable 4,279 points in the Eurovision Grand Final.
00:47And they've tasted victory a few times too, 5 to be exact.
00:52So let's hear it for Sandy Shaw in 1967, Lulu in 1969,
00:57Brotherhood of Man in 1976, Buck's Fizz in 1981,
01:02and Katrina and the Waves lighting up the stage in 1997,
01:07the last time the United Kingdom won the contest.
01:10But it's not always been a song of joy, the dreaded Null Hoa, Zero.
01:15It's a Eurovision nightmare, but to be fair, the United Kingdom have only had to live through that twice.
01:21Back in 2003 with Gemini's Cry Baby and that awful performance that they shouldn't be held responsible for.
01:29And again in 2021 with James Newman's Embers, which hurt especially given how gracious he was receiving zero points.
01:38However, recent history offers a glimmer of hope.
01:41The most successful UK single entry in terms of points in the won competition happened a few years ago in 2022.
01:50Sam Rudder's incredible performance of Spaceman soared to second place, earning a phenomenal 466 points.
01:58A testament to what the UK can achieve.
02:01And as of writing, not recording as it were, the most points a UK entry has received at a singular Eurovision song contest.
02:11So who are our biggest fans across the continent?
02:14Or who are our Eurovision friends?
02:17I've just had to edit out the laughter behind me when I said that.
02:21But looking at the historical data and their 64 years worth of it, the country that has awarded the United Kingdom the most cumulative points is Belgium.
02:32With a grand total of 124.
02:34Thank you Belgium.
02:35Closely following are Austria with 96 points.
02:38Thank you Austria.
02:39And France with 89 points.
02:41Merci beaucoup France.
02:43These nations have consistently also shown their appreciation for the UK's entries over the decades.
02:50And when it comes to the coveted maximum, 12 points.
02:55Belgium has been the most generous neighbour to the United Kingdom, awarding the top score a remarkable 10 times to United Kingdom entries.
03:05Austria has also shown their love with a set of eight dues points.
03:09While the France have given us a maximum of five occasions.
03:12Again, I'm a New Zealander living in the UK.
03:15I refer to the UK as us.
03:18Now all eyes are on Remember Monday as they take to the stage in Bale, Switzerland.
03:23But can they build on Samrider's success and tap into the goodwill of our most supportive Eurovision allies?
03:29Again, Eurovision friends!
03:31The journey is just beginning and with the UK along with the rest of Europe soon finding out if what the hell just happened will lead to a memorable night for all the right reasons.
03:41Will the points tally tell a new story for the United Kingdom in 2025?
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