British Eurovision legend Sally Ann Triplett blasts the contest and says we should pull out if UK comes last again
AFTER Michael Rice finished bottom of the heap at Eurovision last year, it seems almost inconceivable the UK could do any worse in the years to come.
But one British former performer in the competition says if we finish last again we should pull out of the contest entirely.
Sally Ann Triplett, who’s one of only four people, including Cliff Richard and Cheryl Baker, to represent the UK at Eurovision twice, also claims we’ve not had a decent entry in 23 years.
She said: “It’s different now and it’s so political. You can’t compete with the politics of the world.
“Music isn’t going to compete with that. Recently we’ve not put forward a song that’s any good and is strong enough to win
“If we do put something in that deserves to win and it comes last, then let’s pull out after that.”
Sally Ann was a member of six-piece band Prima Donna who came third in Eurovision 1980 and, two years later, she was half of duo Bardo, who finished seventh.
London-born mum-of-two Sally Ann now lives in New York, where she’s currently working on a show based on the book Becoming Nancy. She added: “I guess the UK’s last decent entry was Love Shine A Light by Katrina And The Waves, which won in 1997.
“None of the songs they’ve used to represent the UK since are any good. It’s not what it used to be. We used to put forward really good songs but we don’t any more.”
Her comments come ahead of the unveiling tomorrow of this year’s UK entry for Eurovision, which will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
In the past, our entrant has been chosen through a public vote after televised performances by several contenders.
But Britain’s record in the competition led organisers to change the system — with the BBC teaming up with music company BMG to find an act.
We should just knock the entire thing on the head. The music means nothing and, with us finally achieving Brexit, I can’t imagine our former European pals will look kindly on us.
Martin missing
HE’S making British TV again, but that doesn’t mean that Martin Freeman is leaving his Hollywood career behind.
He was unable to be at the launch of his Sky comedy, Breeders – which starts on March 12 – as he is in LA, so organisers showed a message the actor recorded earlier.
In the clip Martin told the audience: “I will try to look less like a hostage next time.”
It was also announced this week that he will play a Liverpudlian cop in new BBC2 drama, The Responder.
Let’s hope that he manages to be at the launch of that show in person.
Trio get it from Arlene
SHE was never afraid to speak her mind . . . and now former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has let rip at the stars of the show like never before.
The choreographer laid into former judge Darcey Bussell as well as pro dancers Brendan Cole and James Jordan.
Of the ballerina, Arlene said: “She was really the most beautiful dancer. I am not a big fan of her voice. She should stick to dancing.”
Ouch.
Speaking at the Crazy Coqs cabaret in London’s Soho on Monday night, she then moved on to Brendan and Jordan.
Arlene said: “Boy, could Brendan be difficult. And James Jordan? Oh my God! I’ve had more fights with James than any other professional dancer.
“He will never agree or be told what to do. James particularly. He stands for no nonsense.”
She added: “My favourite dancer was Vincent Simone.”
If only more celebrities were so candid.
bizbit
THE Great British Bake Off is still a big draw for contestants after moving to Channel 4 and losing judge Mary Berry. Her replacement, Prue Leith, said the show got 17,000 applicants in 2019 – the same as in 2014 when on BBC1.
Shranger cooking up a hit
THE BBC must be kicking itself after giving Rosemary Shrager the chop from The Big Family Cooking Showdown two years ago.
Its first series, which the TV chef was a judge on, has been repeated on Netflix and is such a hit the streaming giant has given Rosemary a new cookery show.
She is one of three chefs overseeing its contest, which has yet to be named and is set to be released later this year.
The second series of BBC2’s The Big Family Cooking Showdown saw Rosemary and fellow judge, Giorgio Locatelli, replaced with Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks and Celebrity MasterChef winner Angellica Bell.
Rosemary has been jetting from the UK to the warmer climes of California, where the Netflix show is being filmed.
And they say revenge is a dish best served cold.
must watch
WHAT? Flesh and Blood, ITV, 9pm.
WHY? The mystery around what happened when Vivien (Francesca Annis) had her birthday deepens. Mary (Imelda Staunton) watches the family unravel.
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