UK's 'dismal' Eurovision Song Contest record to be scrutinised by MPs

The UK's "dismal record" in the Eurovision Song Contest is going to be investigated by MPs after years of poor results.

It's been nearly three decades since the UK last held the glass microphone trophy aloft, with Sam Ryder coming the closest to a win since, finishing in second place with Spaceman in 2022.

This year's Eurovision entry Sam Battle, who performs as Look Mum No Computer, finished in last place, receiving just a single point for his song Eins, Zwei, Drei.

The musician swiftly released a T-shirt with the slogan "Look Mum No Point" - joking that it was technically "Eins" point.

In both 2024 and 2025, acts Olly Alexander and Remember Monday received points from the jury but no points from the public.

Mae Muller finished second from bottom in 2023, and James Newman finished last with "nul points" in 2021.

In 2009, Jade Ewan came in fifth place with It's My Time.

MPs on the Digital, Media and Sport Committee will hold a state of play inquiry into the selection of the UK's entry following a callout for ideas earlier this year.

Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage told BBC News: "We want to get to the bottom of who chooses our entrant, on what basis and whether our dismal record of achievement in recent years (Sam Ryder to one side) is the result of bad song choice, weak performance… or something else.

"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 songwriters and musicians."

The UK has won Eurovision five times, most recently in 1997 with Love Shine A Light by Katrina And The Waves.

It has ranked in second place a record 16 times, but since 2000 finishes have been considerably lower.

Sweden and Ireland hold a joint record for the most Eurovision wins with seven each.

Next year's competition will take place in Bulgaria, following singer Dara's first-time victory for the country in May.

Despite being an apolitical contest in name, Eurovision has become mired in controversy in recent years, with five countries pulling out of the competition last year in protest over Israel's participation amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

Earlier this week, Ireland announced it would boycott the contest for a second year in a row due to the "ongoing loss of lives in Gaza".

Last month, Danish broadcaster AvroTros confirmed it too would be boycotting Eurovision 2027, saying the contest is no longer consistent with "trustworthiness, independence and humanity".

(c) Sky News 2026: UK's 'dismal' Eurovision Song Contest record to be scrutinised by MPs