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Where are the UK's most memorable Eurovision contestants now?

Crash landing: British group Scooch's airline song Flying the Flag came second last
Crash landing: British group Scooch's airline song Flying the Flag came second last

This weekend would have marked the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, a chance for households across the UK to pop the prosecco, listen to Graham Norton's quick quips and have a Eurovision party.

However, with the current coronavirus pandemic, it was not to be.

Instead, the BBC will air classic Eurovision acts in their one-off show celebrating the competition’s history - leaving us to reminisce about our previous efforts and dig into what they've been up to since...

Lucie Jones (2017)

Previously best known for her shocking X Factor elimination at the hands of Irish singing duo (and Eurovision contestants) Jedward, Lucie Jones performed in Kiev 2017 with the ballad Never Give Up on You.

The Welsh singer finished in a creditable 15th place, with 111 points.

Post-Eurovision, Jones has made a name for herself in musical theatre, appearing in We Will Rock You, Ghost the Musical, Rent, and gaining lead roles in Legally Blonde the Musical, and most recently, Waitress.

Scooch (2007)

The foursome represented the UK in Helsinki 2007 with Flying the Flag (For You). It was embarrassingly full of innuendo, and described by Charlotte Church as “absolute s**t.” Lovely stuff.

The group finished joint 22nd out of 24 entries, after receiving just 19 points in the final. Unbelievably though, the song reached number five in the UK Top 40 chart.

Since then, David and Natalie have continued teaching at performing arts schools, Caroline has worked in musical theatre, and Russ has starred in a touring musical. Caroline and Russ are also an item now and appeared together on Channel 4’s Coach Trip.

The group have also been known to perform at Pride festivals.

Blue (2011)

Before heading across Europe, Blue’s entry with I Can was talked up as a potential Eurovision winner and although the nation was disappointed with their eventual 11th place finish, it was still an admirable position (in UK terms, at least).

Pre-eurovision, the band were consistent chart-toppers, with 13 Top 10 hits, including three Number Ones. They went on to reach the UK Top 20 with 2013 album Roulette, and had success performing in The Big Reunion. However, it wasn’t quite enough, and in 2015, Blue were dropped by their record label due to the comparatively poor sales of their latest release, Colours.

Things went from bad to worse, as all four members filed for bankruptcy. Last year, they become the face of a Hull based boiler company after revealing that they were having financial difficulties and problems releasing a new album.

Samantha Janus (1991)

At only 18 years old, this ex-Eastender won the annual A Song for Europe competition to represent the UK at the contest.

Dressed in a pink mini-dress while singing about starving children (Eurovision, what else), she finished joint 10th and her song, A Message to Your Heart, peaked at number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.

After the song contest, singing took a back seat and acting became her priority. Most notably she went on to play Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders for nine years, before the beloved character was killed off in 2017 after trying to save her sister Roxy from drowning in a hotel swimming pool on her wedding day.

Engelbert Humperdinck (2012)

Humperdinck was the opening act in Azerbaijan’s Eurovision. It was, unfortunately, not a successful year for the then 76-year-old crooner, who finished second-to-last, with a measly 12 points.

Though not popular in the contest, Humperdinck is luckily still well-loved. In 2014 he released Engelbert Calling, a duets album featuring the likes of Elton John, Il Divo and Willie Nelson - and it hit the UK Top 40.

Now 84 years old, Humperdinck is in his sixth decade as a successful musician and continues to perform live dates.

Bonnie Tyler (2013)

Another former popstar to grace the Eurovision stage is Welsh power ballad songstres Bonnie Tyler. Believe In Me was Tyler’s song of choice but unfortunately she finished in 19th place with 23 points.

After Eurovision, the three-time Grammy nominee got her highest chart position in 27 years with her 16th album, Rocks and Honey.

And who can forget, in 2017, she helped to mark the solar eclipse by joining Joe Jonas for a cover of her hit, Total Eclipse of the Heart.

SuRie (2018)

The nation got behind SuRie when she carried on singing after her performance was rudely interrupted by a stage invader in Lisbon.

SuRie, who came 24th out of 26 countries at the event, refused the chance to sing her hit Storm again after her performance was disrupted.

Since the contest, SuRie has embarked on a Eurovision Unplugged tour, performing covers of her favourite Eurovision entries at venues up and down the country.

She’s also released a concept album called ‘Dozen’, in which one song represents every month of the year, such as Prince’s 'Sometimes It Snows in April' and Green Day’s 'Wake Me Up When September Ends’.

Jade Ewen (2009)

Former Sugababe Jade Ewen graced the stage with the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren penned ‘It's My Time. She did pretty well, finishing in fifth place, making her the most successful British Eurovision act since 2002.

After Eurovision, Ewen joined the ever regenerating Sugababes, and re-recorded all of Keisha’s vocals for their 2010 album, Sweet 7.

Since the girlband’s split, she’s hit musical theatre, with performances in Porgy and Bess and In the Heights. In a whole new world for the singer, she played Princess Jasmine in the West End production of Aladdin

Katrina and the Waves (1997)

Sixteen years after Bucks Fizz won Eurovision for the UK, Katrina and the Waves became the fifth (and currently last) UK act to win the competition. After a major hit with Walking on Sunshine in 1985, the band had a lot of support to take the crown.

Entering with a cheesier song of Love Shine a Light, the band won a then-record margin of 70 points from Eurovision hosts. The song also became their biggest hit in the UK, reaching number three.

While you’d think they’d love the success, lead singer Katrina Leskanich later called the contest ‘a joke’, saying that the band’s credibility was scuppered and led to their break-up in 1999. Ouch.

Despite this, the band’s members continue to perform individually, as well as making an appearance together in July 2013 at the San Fermín festival in Spain.