Over half of Brits are fearing a Brexit backlash at Eurovision
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Those who belong to a younger generation may not realise it but the United Kingdom has a rich and storied history in the Eurovision Song Contest.
With five victories under our belts (1967, 1969, 1976, 1981 and 1997), only Sweden and the Republic of Ireland can list more wins than Ol’ Blighty.
However, despite those previous successes, our love affair with the continent’s pop extravaganza appears to be waning.
Or, as evidenced by the Brexit vote, perhaps it’s just our ties with Europe in general that have become frayed.
That’s the finding of our recent study, with over half of Brits (54%) of the opinion that the UK should leave the Eurovision Song Contest.
Another half (50%) think that the UK will get fewer points in this year’s competition as a result of Brexit while almost a third (28%) believe Eurovision voting patterns show that Europe simply doesn’t like Britain.
Meanwhile, a defeatist 51% are expecting the UK entry from X Factor’s Lucie Jones to bomb on the night, fearing that a bottom five finish is the best we can hope for.
Perhaps that’s because the UK entry has been seen by many as a direct reference to Brexit, including the lyrics:
“You’re not defeated, you’re in repair
Don’t have to call me, I’ll always be there
We’ll stand tall, so you don’t fall
If you could see how far you’ve walked
You would see that’s all not lost…”
It’s unsurprising then that over three quarters (76%) of Brits are embarrassed by our act.
With a total lack of faith in the song contest, a disenchanted four out of five (82%) Brits will not be voting on the night, with over two thirds (65%) claiming we will never win it again.
Across the UK, it seems those in the North West are the most engaged in the contest with over one in ten (12%) interested in voting this year, while East Anglians are the biggest pessimists with almost two in five (17%) stating Britain will finish last.
However, it’s not a totally gloomy picture. A not too insignificant 13% are holding out hope that One Direction could take us back to the glory days of 1997.
Take That were named second (11%) and Zayn Malik was seen as the least likely (0.6%) to take Britain to another Eurovision win.
UK Acts that would give us the best chance of winning Eurovision
One Direction – 11%
Take That – 7%
Little Mix – 7%
Spice Girls – 6%
Bucks Fizz – 3%
Zayn Malik – 0.6%
A Ladbrokes spokesperson said: “It’s been 20 years since the UK won Eurovision and Brits seem to feel like it will be another 20 until we win again. Brexit means Brexit, and it looks like leaving the EU will do us no favours this year when it comes to emerging victorious.”
The odds back that up, with the UK entry priced at 25/1 to secure victory although that is shorter than the 50/1 and 33/1 recently seen on offer ahead of the big finale in Kiev.
Click here for the latest Eurovision Song Contest odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
