Following a series of mixed fortunes at Eurovision in recent years today the BBC confirmed it’s internal selection this year focussed on the new music strand BBC Introducing and named newcomer Molly as their choice for Copenhagen.
Molly Smitten-Downes is 26 years old and from Leicestershire, England. She is an up and coming act who won best song at the Best of British Unsigned Music awards last year and has been given this chance through her previously signing up for BBC Introducing which gives new talents a platform to put their music by the BBC. Yesterday at a secret location Molly performed her Eurovision entry Children of the Universe before a live audience.
This show was broadcast tonight on the BBC Red Button and hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ and Semi Final commentator Scott Mills who introduced Molly and in an interview she explained how this opportunity was granted to her.
Children of the Universe has been written by Molly as a track specifically for the Eurovision 2014. In a blog posted on the BBC’s Eurovision page on Friday the Executive Producer of Eurovision for the BBC Guy Freeman explained the details in the planning ahead of tonights announcement. "..early on in plans for 2014, we took the view that we needed a bespoke, contemporary song, written specifically to suit the conditions of the competition – rather than trying to get lucky with a pre-existing track from an artist." "The end result is that we now have a powerful and impressive song that we hope will do us proud in Copenhagen."
The United Kingdom as part of the Big five automatically qualify to the final of the Eurovision and Molly will sing live on Saturday 10th May in B&W Hallerne, Copenhagen.
Click below to see Molly’s debut performance of Children of the Universe
United Kindgom at the Eurovision Song Contest
Having debuted at the 2nd Eurovision in 1957 the UK has had 5 wins across the years. Their very first win was Sandie Shaw with Puppet on a String in 1967. Next in 1969 Lulu won in a four way tie alongside Spain, Netherlands and France with Boom Bang a Bang. It was 1976 before they next took the Grand Prix when Brotherhood of Man and Save Your Kisses for Me managed to run away with a 20 point lead over that years second place, France. Bucks Fizz were the next winners with Making Your Mind Up in 1981 and their last win to date was Katrina and the Waves with Love Shine a Light in 1997. Alongside the 5 wins they have finished in 2nd place a total of 15 times. The last occasion this happened was at home during the Birmingham contest of 1998.
In between some of the most well known names flew the flag for the UK such as Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton John, Michael Ball, Sonia and Gina G.
Each time the UK won the contest they hosted and have stepped in to host the show a further 3 times meaning the Eurovision has been staged in the UK more times than in Ireland, their nearest neighbour and the country with the most Eurovision wins.
Since the year 2000 the UK has finished top 5 just twice; in Tallinn 2002 with Jessica Garlick who was joint 3rd and in Moscow 2009 with Jade Ewen who came in 5th place.
Stay with Eurovisionary for all the United Kingdom news in the lead up to this years contest
