Joanna Lumley addresses whether she would consider representing UK at Eurovision
Well, this would be Absolutely Fabulous ... Dame Joanna Lumley has volunteered to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The actress' stint as the UK’s ambassador proved popular with the French on May 11. Joanna delighted Europeans when she swigged champagne and gave a wartime-esque cry of " United Kingdom calling" while reading out our scores.
French TV commentators whooped and cheered, calling her a "national treasure" as she praised the "Swedies" who were hosting the ceremony. Asked by the Mirror at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show whether she would consider representing us, the Ab Fab star said: “Oh, come on, the answer is, of course, yes!”
If the 78-year-old does represent us in Switzerland next year, she will be following in the folorn footsteps of Olly Alexander. In Malmö this year he was the only act to receive no points from the public vote following his performance of the song Dizzy. Swiss act Nemo's The Code won the competition earlier this month.
Joanna Lumley at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20, 2024.
Olly Alexander at the Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony in 2024.
The international contest was hosted by the UK last year on behalf of Ukraine, who had won with act Kalush Orchestra in 2022. Sweden's Loreen won the contest for a second time whilst competing in Liverpool last year, which then led to Eurovision being held in the city of Malmö earlier this year.
The UK has won the contest on five occasions since it began in 1956. The first instance was with Sandie Shaw in 1967, for the song Puppet on a String. Lulu then won the competition with Boom Bang-a-Bang as part of a four-way tie in 1969.
Brotherhood of Man were victorious with their song Save Your Kisses for Me in 1976, before Bucks Fizz brought home the trophy for Making Your Mind Up in 1981. Most recently, Katrina and the Waves topped the scoreboard with the song Love Shine a Light whilst representing the UK back in 1997.
Acts who have represented the UK in the years since then have included Sam Ryder, who placed second with the song Space Man in the contest in 2022. It marked the country's highest place on the scoreboard since Imaani reached the same position with the song Where Are You? in 1998.
The UK has also been represented by the likes of Jessica Garlick, Jemini, Scooch, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen, Blue and Bonnie Tyler since last winning the contest more than two decades ago. More recent entries have included acts such as Lucie Jones, James Newman and Mae Muller.
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