The United Kingdom made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. To date, the UK has won the Eurovision Song Contest 5 times. The UK has also finished second a record 16 times and also has the record for the longest-running string of Top 5 placings.

The United Kingdom holds the record for the longest run of consecutive appearances in the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. The record would have gone to Germany had the country not been relegated in a pre-selection round in 1996.

The UK holds another record, which is regarded as one of the biggest achievements in the history of the Contest: coming in second in the final ranking 16 times.

The United Kingdom has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 9 times (if we include upcoming Liverpool 2023), stepping in to stage the event when others were unable to do so. The UK last hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 in Birmingham following Katrina and the Waves' victory with Love Shine A Light in 1997.

Participation history

Event Contestant Song Place
Turin 2022
Sam Ryder
SPACE MAN
Grand Final
2nd - 466 points
Rotterdam 2021
James Newman
Embers
Grand Final
26th - 0 points
Rotterdam 2020
James Newman
My Last Breath
Tel Aviv 2019
Michael Rice
Bigger Than Us
Grand Final
26th - 11 points
Lisbon 2018
SuRie
Storm
Grand Final
24th - 48 points
Kyiv 2017
Lucie Jones
Never Give Up On You
Grand Final
15th - 111 points
Stockholm 2016
Joe and Jake
You're Not Alone
Grand Final
24th - 62 points
Vienna 2015
Electro Velvet
Still In Love With You
Grand Final
24th - 5 points
Copenhagen 2014
Molly
Children of the Universe
Grand Final
17th - 40 points
Malmö 2013
Bonnie Tyler
Believe In Me
Grand Final
19th - 23 points
Baku 2012
Engelbert Humperdinck
Love Will Set You Free
Grand Final
25th - 12 points
Düsseldorf 2011
Blue
I Can
Grand Final
11th - 100 points
Oslo 2010
Josh
That Sounds Good To Me
Grand Final
25th - 10 points
Moscow 2009
Jade Ewen
It's My Time
Grand Final
5th - 173 points
Belgrade 2008
Andy Abraham
Even If
Grand Final
25th - 14 points
Helsinki 2007
Scooch
Flying The Flag (for You)
Grand Final
22nd - 19 points
Athens 2006
Daz Sampson
Teenage Life
Grand Final
19th - 25 points
Kyiv 2005
Javine
Touch My Fire
Grand Final
22nd - 18 points
Istanbul 2004
James Fox
Hold On To Our Love
Grand Final
16th - 29 points
Riga 2003
Jemini
Cry Baby
Grand Final
26th - 0 points
Tallinn 2002
Jessica Garlick
Come Back
Grand Final
3rd - 111 points
Copenhagen 2001
Lindsay D.
No Dream Impossible
Grand Final
15th - 28 points
Stockholm 2000
Nicki French
Don't Play That Song Again
Grand Final
16th - 28 points
Jerusalem 1999
Precious
Say It Again
Grand Final
12th - 38 points
Birmingham 1998
Imaani
Where Are You?
Grand Final
2nd - 166 points
Dublin 1997
Katrina and The Waves
Love Shine A Light
Grand Final
1st - 227 points
Oslo 1996
Gina G
Ooh...Aah...Just A Little Bit
Grand Final
8th - 77 points
Dublin 1995
Love City Groove
Love City Groove
Grand Final
10th - 76 points
Dublin 1994
Frances Ruffelle
We Will Be Free (lonely Symphony)
Grand Final
10th - 63 points
Millstreet 1993
Sonia
Better The Devil You Know
Grand Final
2nd - 164 points
Malmö 1992
Michael Ball
One Step Out Of Time
Grand Final
2nd - 139 points
Rome 1991
Samantha Janus
A Message To Your Heart
Grand Final
10th - 47 points
Zagreb 1990
Emma
Give A Little Love Back To The World
Grand Final
6th - 87 points
Lausanne 1989
Live Report
Why Do I Always Get It Wrong
Grand Final
2nd - 130 points
Dublin 1988
Scott Fitzgerald
Go
Grand Final
2nd - 136 points
Brussels 1987
Rikki
Only The Light
Grand Final
13th - 47 points
Bergen 1986
Ryder
Runner In The Night
Grand Final
7th - 72 points
Gothenburg 1985
Vikki
Love Is...
Grand Final
4th - 100 points
Luxembourg 1984
Belle and the Devotions
Love Games
Grand Final
7th - 63 points
Munich 1983
Sweet Dreams
I'm Never Giving Up
Grand Final
6th - 79 points
Harrogate 1982
Bardo
One Step Further
Grand Final
7th - 76 points
Dublin 1981
Bucks Fizz
Making Your Mind Up
Grand Final
1st - 136 points
The Hague 1980
Prima Donna
Love Enough For Two
Grand Final
3rd - 106 points
Jerusalem 1979
Black Lace
Mary Ann
Grand Final
7th - 73 points
Paris 1978
Co-Co
The Bad Old Days
Grand Final
11th - 61 points
London 1977
Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran
Rock Bottom
Grand Final
2nd - 121 points
The Hague 1976
Brotherhood of Man
Save Your Kisses For Me
Grand Final
1st - 164 points
Stockholm 1975
The Shadows
Let Me Be The One
Grand Final
2nd - 138 points
Brighton 1974
Olivia Newton-John
Long Live Love
Grand Final
4th - 14 points
Luxembourg 1973
Cliff Richard
Power To All Our Friends
Grand Final
3rd - 123 points
Edinburgh 1972
The New Seekers
Beg, Steal Or Borrow
Grand Final
2nd - 114 points
Dublin 1971
Clodagh Rodgers
Jack In The Box
Grand Final
4th - 98 points
Amsterdam 1970
Mary Hopkin
Knock, Knock (who's There?)
Grand Final
2nd - 26 points
Madrid 1969
Lulu
Boom Bang-a-bang
Grand Final
1st - 18 points
London 1968
Cliff Richard
Congratulations
Grand Final
2nd - 28 points
Vienna 1967
Sandie Shaw
Puppet On A String
Grand Final
1st - 47 points
Luxembourg 1966
Kenneth McKellar
A Man Without Love
Grand Final
9th - 8 points
Naples 1965
Kathy Kirby
I Belong
Grand Final
2nd - 26 points
Copenhagen 1964
Matt Monro
I Love The Little Things
Grand Final
2nd - 17 points
London 1963
Ronnie Carroll
Say Wonderful Things
Grand Final
4th - 28 points
Luxembourg 1962
Ronnie Carroll
Ring-a-ding Girl
Grand Final
4th - 10 points
Cannes 1961
The Allisons
Are You Sure?
Grand Final
2nd - 24 points
London 1960
Bryan Johnson
Looking High, High, High
Grand Final
2nd - 25 points
Cannes 1959
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
Sing Little Birdie
Grand Final
2nd - 16 points
Frankfurt 1957
Patricia Bredin
All
Grand Final
7th - 6 points