United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020

The United Kingdom originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The British broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) returned to an internal selection in 2020, this time partnering with record label BMG who selected, recorded and produced the British entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the contest was cancelled.[1]

Eurovision Song Contest 2020
Country United Kingdom
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)27 February 2020
Selected entrantJames Newman
Selected song"My Last Breath"
Selected songwriter(s)James Newman
Ed Drewett
Adam Argyle
Iain James
Finals performance
Final resultCancelled
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2019 • 2020 • 2021►

Background
Main article: United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2019 contest, the United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty-one times. Thus far, the United Kingdom has won the contest five times: in 1967 with the song "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw, in 1969 with the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, in 1976 with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" performed by Brotherhood of Man, in 1981with the song "Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz and in 1997 with the song "Love Shine a Light" performed by Katrina and the Waves. To this point, the nation is noted for having finished as the runner-up in a record fifteen contests. Up to and including 1998, the UK had only twice finished outside the top 10, in 1978 and 1987. Since 1999, the year in which the rule was abandoned that songs must be performed in one of the official languages of the country participating, the UK has had less success, thus far only finishing within the top ten twice: in 2002 with the song "Come Back" performed by Jessica Garlick and in 2009 with the song "It's My Time" performed by Jade Ewen. For the 2019 contest, the United Kingdom finished in twenty-sixth (last) place out of twenty-six competing entries with the song "Bigger than Us" performed by Michael Rice amassing a total of 11 points.

The British national broadcaster, the BBC, broadcasts the event within the United Kingdom and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The BBC announced that the United Kingdom would participate in the 2019 contest on 19 September 2018. Between 2011 and 2015, the BBC opted to internally select the British entry. For their 2016 entry, the broadcaster announced that a national final would be organised featuring a competition among several artists and songs to choose the British entry for the contest. The same process was used between 2017 and 2019.

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 16 September 2019, BBC announced an internal selection for the 2020 contest instead of holding a national final. BBC Studios collaborated with record label BMG in order to select, produce and release the British entry.[2] On 27 February 2020, the song "My Last Breath" written by James Newman, Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James and performed by James Newman was revealed as the British entry on both BBC Radio 1, during The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James, and on BBC Radio 2, with Ken Bruce.[3]

At Eurovision

As a member of the "Big 5", the United Kingdom would have automatically qualified for the final on 16 May. In addition to their participation in the final, the United Kingdom would have voted in the second semi-final on 14 May.[4] However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Replacement contests

Following the cancellation of the contest, many countries decided to host their own smaller replacement contests. The results table below displays where the UK placed in those individual shows.

Table key
◁
 Last place
Country Broadcaster Show Final Points Semi Points Ref.
 Australia
Big Night In
 20 N/A No semi-finals [5]
 Austria Failed to qualify 4 66 [6]
 Germany Failed to qualify Not announced [7]
 Iceland
Okkar 12 stig
 11 ◁ 0 No semi-finals [8]
 Norway
Norge bestemmer
 Not selected [9]
 San Marino
Eurovision 2020: una serata in musica
 21 N/A No semi-finals [10]
 Sweden 6 8 Not announced [11]

References
  1. "Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation". eurovision.tv. EBU. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. Gallagher, Robyn (16 September 2019). "UK: BBC cancels 'Eurovision: You Decide' as it announces new partnership with BMG to internally select act for Rotterdam". Wiwibloggs.
  3. Darvill, Josh (22 February 2020). "UK Eurovision 2020 entry to be revealed Thursday, February 27". TellyMix.
  4. "Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final?". eurovision.tv. EBU. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  5. Granger, Anthony (16 May 2020). "Australia: Daði og Gagnamagnið Win Eurovision: Big Night In". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  6. Granger, Anthony (14 April 2020). "Austria: Daði og Gagnamagnið Wins Der kleine Song Contest Semi-Final One". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  7. Granger, Anthony (10 May 2020). "Germany: Ten Acts Qualify For Eurovision Song Contest 2020 – das deutsche Finale live aus der Elbphilharmonie". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. Granger, Anthony (15 May 2020). "Iceland: Diodato Wins Okkar 12 Stig For Italy". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  9. Hyttebakk, Jon Marius (15 May 2020). "Full resultatliste i «ESC: Norge bestemmer»". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  10. Granger, Anthony (16 May 2020). "San Marino: Diodato Wins Eurovision 2020: una serata in musica". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  11. Granger, Anthony (14 May 2020). "Sweden: Daði og Gagnamagnið Wins Sveriges 12:a". Eurovoix. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
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