United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Eurovision: Your Decision | ||||
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Selection date(s) | 1 March 2008 | |||
Selected entrant | Andy Abraham | |||
Selected song | "Even If" | |||
Selected songwriter(s) |
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Finals performance | ||||
Final result | 25th, 14 points | |||
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Even If" written by Andy Abraham, Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins. The song was performed by Andy Abraham. The British entry for the 2008 contest in Belgrade, Serbia was selected via the national final Eurovision: Your Decision, organised by the British broadcaster BBC. Six acts competed in the national final and the winner was selected through three rounds of voting.
As a member of the "
Background
Prior to the 2008 contest, the United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty times.
The British national broadcaster, BBC, broadcasts the event within the United Kingdom and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. BBC announced that the United Kingdom would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 on 21 December 2007.[2] BBC has traditionally organised a national final featuring a competition among several artists and songs to choose the British entry for Eurovision. For their 2008 entry, the broadcaster announced that a national final involving a public vote would be held to select United Kingdom's entry.[3]
Before Eurovision
Eurovision: Your Decision
Eurovision: Your Decision was the national final developed by the BBC in order to select the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Six acts competed in a televised show on 1 March 2008 held at the
Competing entries
Six finalists were selected to compete in the national final and split into three categories: soloists, girl groups and Joseph v Maria (consisting of the two finalists from the BBC reality television shows
Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Category |
---|---|---|---|
Andy Abraham | "Even If" |
|
Soloists |
LoveShy
|
"Mr. Gorgeous" |
|
Girl groups |
Michelle Gayle | "Woo (U Make Me)" |
|
Soloists |
Rob McVeigh | "I Owe It All to You" |
|
Joseph v Maria |
Simona Armstrong | "Changes" |
|
Joseph v Maria |
The Revelations | "It's You" | Adam Howorth | Girl groups |
Final
The televised final on took place on 1 March 2008. In addition to their performances, guest performers included previous Eurovision Song Contest winner
Category | Draw | Artist | Song | Jury Vote | Total | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J. Barrowman | C. Grant | T. Wogan | ||||||
Girl groups | 1 | LoveShy
|
"Mr. Gorgeous" | N/A | 0 | Eliminated | ||
2 | The Revelations | "It's You" | X | X | 2 | Advanced | ||
Joseph v Maria | 3 | Rob McVeigh | "I Owe It All to You" | 0 | Eliminated | |||
4 | Simona Armstrong | "Changes" | X | X | X | 3 | Advanced | |
Soloists | 5 | Michelle Gayle | "Woo (U Make Me)" | X | X | X | 3 | Advanced |
6 | Andy Abraham | "Even If" | 0 | Wildcard |
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The Revelations | "It's You" | Eliminated |
2 | Simona Armstrong | "Changes" | Eliminated |
3 | Michelle Gayle | "Woo (U Make Me)" | Advanced |
4 | Andy Abraham | "Even If" | Advanced |
Draw | Artist | Song | Place |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Michelle Gayle | "Woo (U Make Me)" | 2 |
2 | Andy Abraham | "Even If" | 1 |
At Eurovision
It was announced in September 2007 that the competition's format would be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008. According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "
In the United Kingdom, the semi-finals were broadcast on BBC Three with commentary by Paddy O'Connell and Caroline Flack, while the final was televised on BBC One with commentary by Terry Wogan and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 with commentary by Ken Bruce.[12] This was the final contest to be commentated by Wogan. The British spokesperson, who announced the British votes during the final, was Carrie Grant who represented the United Kingdom at the 1983 contest as part of the band Sweet Dreams.[13]
Final
Andy Abraham took part in technical rehearsals on 17 and 18 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 23 and 24 May. During the running order draw for the semi-final and final on 17 March 2008, the United Kingdom was placed to perform in position 2, following the entry from Romania and before the entry from Albania.[14]
The British performance featured Andy Abraham, dressed in a blue suit with silver elements, performing on a predominately gold and brown coloured stage with the LED screens displaying mutli-coloured sparkling squares.[15] Abraham was joined by a drummer, two guitarists, a keyboardist and a backing vocalist, all dressed in black with the male performers also wearing white ties. The performance also featured pyrotechnic effects.[16][17] The United Kingdom placed twenty-fourth (last) in the final, scoring 14 points.[18]
Voting
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to the United Kingdom and awarded by the United Kingdom in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Cyprus in the semi-final and to Greece in the final of the contest.
Points awarded to the United Kingdom
Score | Country |
---|---|
12 points | |
10 points | |
8 points | Ireland |
7 points | |
6 points | San Marino |
5 points | |
4 points | |
3 points | |
2 points | |
1 point |
Points awarded by the United Kingdom
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After Eurovision
During the Eurovision final, commentator Terry Wogan expressed frustration with the result, having called Andy Abraham and his song "the best UK entry for a while".
References
- ^ "United Kingdom | Country profile | Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "43 Countries for Eurovision 2008". ESCToday.com. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
- ^ Reality stars to sing in Eurovision for Britain – Sunday Mirror Archived 23 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Royston, Benny (14 January 2008). "Exclusive: UK Decides on March 1st". Esctoday. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Eurovision – Your Decision". BBC. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ a b Lewis, Cole (1 March 2008). "Live: United Kingdom – National Final Results". Esctoday.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (3 March 2008). "Eurovision warm-up draws 5m". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Royston, Benny (18 February 2008). "UK: Soloists, Girl Groups and Joseph Vs. Maria". Esctoday.
- ^ Lewis, Cole (28 February 2008). "UK: Previews of UK Finalists on BBC1". Esctoday. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "UK selects Andy Abraham!". eurovision.tv. 1 March 2008.
- ^ "Eurovision – Your Decision". BBC. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Press Office (2 May 2008). "Eurovision Song Contest 2008: BBC coverage". BBC. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^ "Talking Shop: Carrie Grant". BBC News. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
- ^ Sietse Bakker (17 March 2008). "Belgrade 2008: The running order!". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
- ^ Floras, Stella (17 May 2008). "Day 7: UK, Germany, France, Spain, Serbia". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Andy Abraham first finalist to rehearse". eurovision.tv. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "UK, Germany and France drive by". eurovision.tv. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Grand Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Results of the Grand Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Second Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Russia scoops Eurovision victory". BBC News. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ Staff writer (25 May 2008). "Wogan 'may quit Eurovision role'". BBC News Online. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ Levine, Nick (1 August 2008). "Music - Interview - BWO - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
External links
- Media related to United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 at Wikimedia Commons
- BBC's official Eurovision website