[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

The last great UK Eurovision song was probably from that Aussie lass Gina G. Ooh Ah Just a Little Bit went on to be the top selling record in Europe that year, 25 years ago in 1996, but only came 8th in the contest and I don't think we've had a top ten finish since.

To be fair, we won it the very next year with Katrina & The Waves singing a song that wasn't half as good a pop track as Ooh Aah, but was undoubtedly more "Eurovision" in its style and theme.

Although political and cultural voting does happen, I think people tend to over-egg it and use it as a comfort blanket when we repeatedly lose. Russia and Israel aren't exactly winning any popularity contests in Europe of late, but both countries have won Eurovision since the UK last did; twice in Israel's case. As others have said, a large part of the problem is that faceless BBC committees play way too much of a part in the selection of the song. Even when they put it to a public vote, they approve what gets on the shortlist, so it's a "choice" of forgettable, samey shite. In the absence of anyone with actual talent wanting to touch the competition with a barge pole, there's no chance of us ever even throwing anything a bit quirky and different into the mix, like Italy and Finland did with their entries this year. It's all as boring and predictable as the inevitable last-place finish.