The UK’s long years of Eurovision pain – in numbers

Sam Ryder will aim to end a dismal run of form for the United Kingdom when he takes to the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin on Saturday.

The UK has finished in the top half of the competition only three times so far this century: 2002 (when the country was represented by Jessica Garlick), 2009 (Jade Ewen) and 2011 (Blue).

There is already a buzz surrounding Ryder and his song Space Man, with some bookmakers suggesting he could bag enough points to come third or fourth.

Since 2000 the UK has finished in one of the bottom three positions on 10 separate occasions.

This is not quite as bad as Finland, who since the start of the contest in 1956 has finished last in the final a record nine times.

But it is typical of the UK’s faltering Eurovision performance in recent years, and is in sharp contrast to how the country fared in earlier decades.

It was during this time that the UK notched up its five Eurovision wins, in 1967 (Sandie Shaw), 1969 (Lulu), 1976 (Brotherhood Of Man), 1981 (Bucks Fizz) and 1997 (Katrina And The Waves).

This was also the period when the UK came second a total of 15 times – more than any other country in Eurovision history.

If Sam Ryder manages to finish in the top half of this year’s competition, he will at least have ended the country’s long run of poor results since Blue managed a respectable 11th place in 2011.

Avoiding one of the bottom three places would also be an improvement on recent years.

And if by some chance he wins the final, not only would this be the first UK win in a generation, it would also mean the UK gets to host the contest next year – for a record ninth time.