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 15 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, 59 times in a row. 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 15 times.
The UK has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 8 times, 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.