Knock Knock Who’s There?
Lucie Jones is from a village just outside Cardiff and first came to national attention in the 2009 series of X Factor. She was mentored by Danni Minogue and eliminated in week five after deadlock in a sing-off with fellow Eurovision alumni Jedward.
Making Your Mind Up
A similar approach to 2016 was followed by the BBC, with the six finalists revealed on Radio 2 Ken Bruce show and then a final, broadcast this time on BBC2. The show was hosted by Mel Giedroyc and again featured a panel of “experts” opining on each song.
Despite the show being titled “Eurovision: You Decide” it was announced at a late stage that the public vote would in 2017 be combined with that of an expert jury. At the end of the show the winning song was announced but no details were given of how the public and jury voted. Such things are apparently exempt from Freedom Of Information requests (commercial interests and all that, apparently).
I Love The Little Things
Performed eighteenth of twenty-six, between Norway and Cyprus. “Never Give Up On You” was co-written by 2013 Eurovision champ, Dane Emmelie de Forest.
That Sounds Good To Me
Result: 15th of 26 with 111 points.
“Never Give Up On You” did well in the jury vote, and was tenth at that point with 99 points. It’s top vote was a twelve from Australia. However it managed only twentieth in the televote, garnering a meagre 12 points. It’s best televote score were fours from Ireland and Malta.
The final score of 111 was widely reported as the UK’s highest points total since Jade Ewen in 2009 (which it was) however as double points have been awarded from 2016 that’s not an accurate guage. however Lucie’s fifteenth place was the best since Blue’s eleventh in 2011.
Where Are You Now?
Since Kyiv Lucie has resumed her successful stage career starring in Legally Blonde and A Christmas Carol. In the 2018 “Eurovision: You Decide” show she performed a memorable medley of Abba hits with Swedish Eurochamp Mans Zelmerlow.
Flying The Flag
The UK fifteenth in the Eurovision. A triumph, an embarrassment or something in between? I’d go for the last option. The second national final after years of internal selections again didn’t produce any diamonds despite reports of BBC inspired “song-writing” schools (the entries in the UK final had on average four credited songwriters each).
Lucie’s power ballad was probably the best choice though and was spruced up for Kyiv with a new arrangement. The stageing too was quite something, very impressive and the UK has come a long way in that respect from Josh Dubovie walking over boxes. On the downside, Lucie did pull a few off-putting facial expressions during the performance. However that tenth place after the jury vote was well merited.
The disappointing televote for Lucie almost mirrored that for Joe and Jake. Again just points from (dare I say, UK friends) Australia, Ireland and Malta, plus this time a single punto from Spain.
Fifteenth for Lucie is similar territory to Nicki French and Lindsay Dracass (2000/2001) but in a bigger and tougher field. Lucie did OK.
