MPs to scrutinise UK's Eurovision selection
A parliamentary committee will examine the UK's poor Eurovision results, questioning the BBC's selection process for songs and acts.
A UK parliamentary committee will investigate the country's recent run of poor results in the Eurovision Song Contest. The inquiry will focus on the selection process run by the BBC, which has produced a series of low-scoring entries.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage, announced the probe. She stated the committee wants to understand who chooses the UK entrant and on what basis. The aim is to determine if the nation's "dismal record of achievement in recent years is the result of bad song choice, weak performance... Or something else."
Figures from the BBC and music industry experts are expected to give evidence at a hearing in the coming months. The committee will also accept written submissions.
Recent UK Performance
The UK's recent Eurovision history has been marked by poor finishes. This year, the act Look Mum No Computer came last with just one point. In 2023, Mae Muller finished second from bottom. James Newman came last in 2021, scoring zero points.
Sam Ryder's second-place finish in 2022 is the sole exception in the last fifteen years. Before that, the UK had not placed higher than 15th since 2009. Next year's contest will mark three decades since the UK last won, with Katrina and the Waves in 1997.
| Year | UK Act | Final Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Look Mum No Computer | Last | 1 |
| 2023 | Mae Muller | Second from bottom | Not specified |
| 2022 | Sam Ryder | 2nd | Not specified |
| 2021 | James Newman | Last | 0 (nul points) |
Selection Process Under Spotlight
The BBC selects the UK's Eurovision act, sometimes in partnership with a record label. This internal method contrasts with many other countries, which use public televised national finals. The UK last used a public selection show, 'Eurovision: You Decide', in 2019. The chosen act, Michael Rice, went on to come last in the contest that year.
Dame Caroline highlighted the paradox the inquiry will examine. This application interested us because of the UK's reputation for scoring 'nul points', coming bottom, or close to bottom in recent years at Eurovision, despite having world-class song writers and musicians, she told reporters.
Scope of the Inquiry
The hearing forms part of the committee's broader State of Play inquiry. This process allows the public to request evidence sessions on subjects of concern. No specific timeframe for the Eurovision session has been set. Once evidence is gathered, the committee may produce a report with recommendations for the BBC.
The Eurovision final remains one of the UK's most-watched music events, drawing millions of viewers annually. The committee's examination will scrutinise why domestic musical success so rarely translates to votes on the Eurovision stage.
