UK’s Eurovision hopeful Lucie Jones could actually be in with a chance this year
The UK’s odds of winning Eurovision are the shortest they have been in years, after contestant Lucie Jones landed a prime performance slot on the night.
The Grand Final of the camp music contest is set to take place tomorrow evening, with Lucie Jones set to represent the UK with her track ‘I Will Never Give Up On You’,
The UK has suffered repeated humiliation at the song contest in recent years, breaking the top ten just once in the past 15 years.
However, hopes are high that Jones, a professional musical theatre star, could break the cycle.
The Welsh singer, who has appeared in West End productions of Rent, We Will Rock You and the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde, is one of the most consistent performers in the contest, and is bound to impress the juries of music industry experts who make up 50 percent of the vote.
Her chances in the televote have also been handed a boost, after she was allocated a traditionally well-performing slot in the Grand Final running order.
Jones will perform 18th on the night out of 26 artists, a position that has traditionally handed a boost in the televotes.
Of the 12 most recent Eurovision winners, nine have performed between the 17th and 22nd slot on the night.
The odds on a victory for the UK have shortened after the running order was announced, with only Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria, Belgium and Sweden on shorter odds.
The current odds-on favourite is Italian entrant Francesco Gabbani, who is an established musician in the country with a nomination for an MTV Award.
His entry Occidentali’s Karma is already a hit, with more than 100,000,000 on views on YouTube for the music video before the contest even airs.
The Italian team have pulled out all the stops for Eurovision, with a dancing gorilla making an appearance on stage.
Despite the visuals, the Italian-language track itself is not standard Eurovision fare, drawing lyrics from philosophy and Eastern culture… while also giving a nod to Singin’ in the Rain.
Bookmakers currently have Italy on 5/6 to take the trophy.
The Grand Final takes place on Saturday, May 13. In the UK, it will air at 8 PM on BBC One, with commentary from Graham Norton.
In the US, it will air at 3 PM Eastern / 12 PM Pacific on Logo TV with commentary from RuPaul’s Drag Race judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews.
Eurovision Song Contest 2017: Everything you need to know
