I Guess That's Why They Call it the Twos: The UK's Runner-Up History at Eurovision

I Guess That's Why They Call it the Twos: The UK's Runner-Up History at Eurovision

Author: Bingewatch November 4, 2024 Duration: 20:02

In this episode, Stephen deep dives into a Eurovision record nobody particularly wants, but one the United Kingdom has... and it's not the number of 'nil points'!

From Cliff Richard to Sam Ryder, the UK is far and away the most successful runner up in Eurovision history, so we take a look at every one, from the lucky breaks to the near-misses, and everything in between.

...

Highlights from this episode:

  • The Netherlands confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2025 after extensive negotiations with the EBU.
  • Germany is changing its national final format for Eurovision 2025, promising more viewer involvement.
  • Australia will compete again in Eurovision 2025, marking their tenth year in the contest.
  • The UK has an impressive record with 16 second place finishes at Eurovision, the most by any country.
  • Stephen Perkins dives into the history of the UK's Eurovision entries that finished in second place.
  • Despite various runner-up finishes, the UK is still searching for its next winning entry.

...

Mentioned in this episode:

Electric Fields - ‘One Milkali (One Blood)’ (Australia, 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzpp6996QdI

Dami Im - ‘Sound Of Silence’ (Australia, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ymFX91HwM0

Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson - ‘Sing Little Birdie’ (United Kingdom, 1959) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m4ADnfu91k

Teddy Scholten - ‘Een beetje’ (Netherlands 1959): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaEskI58tAM

Bryan Johnson - ‘Looking High, High, High’ (United Kingdom, 1960): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2GivwSboXM

Jacqueline Boyer - ‘Tom Pillibi’ (France, 1960): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX_hlMchXvc

The Allisons - ‘Are You Sure?’ (United Kingdom, 1961): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIxU_XWUmf4

Jean-Claude Pascal - ‘Nous les amoureux’ (Luxembourg, 1961): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i87Vm2BOXL4

Matt Monro - ‘I Love The Little Things’ (United Kingdom, 1964): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OIkip05qu0

Gigliola Cinquetti - ‘Non ho l’età’ (Italy, 1964): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utd9cHBPfRA

Kathy Kirby - ‘I Belong’ (United Kingdom, 1965): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeDI52bdntQ

France Gall - ‘Poupée de cire, poupée de son’ (Luxembourg, 1965): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFnDf8PvmU

Cliff Richard - ‘Congratulations’ (United Kingdom, 1968): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xJcE9tnY6E

Massiel - ‘La La La’ (Spain, 1968):


Hosted by journalist and lifelong superfan Steven Perkins, Douze Points is a fortnightly podcast from Bingewatch that treats the Eurovision Song Contest with the same depth and passion as a critically acclaimed TV series. This isn't just a seasonal recap; it's a year-round analysis for anyone who sees the contest as a compelling mix of high-stakes music, cultural commentary, and unforgettable television. Each episode weaves together breaking news, historical deep dives, and exclusive interviews, all while building the narrative toward the next contest. The discussion naturally extends beyond the stage, exploring how Eurovision intersects with broader trends in film, music, and pop culture. Listeners are invited into a ongoing conversation where predictions are debated, history is unpacked, and fan theories are thoroughly examined. Whether dissecting a national final's production values or analyzing a past winner's lasting impact, the podcast provides a dedicated space for thoughtful fandom. Your perspectives are part of the mix, too, as the show actively incorporates listener insights and those hot takes that make the community so vibrant. Join Steven as he navigates the road to Basel 2025 and everything that happens along the way, offering a smart, engaging listen that celebrates the complexity and joy of Eurovision.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 94

Douze Points
Podcast Episodes
The 20 Biggest Jury-Televote Gaps in Eurovision Voting History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:26
Eurovision results are a dramatic affair, and are arguably as entertaining as the performances themselves. Even more so when the expert jury and general public disagree wildly on their favourites.So in this deep dive, St…
They Think It's Mold-over... It Is Now! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:11
Eurovision news is flying in thick and fast, and we have you covered! From Moldova's withdrawal to Ireland's shortlist, the running order for Basel 2025 is starting to take shape, but what does Will Ferrell have to do wi…
Eurovision 2025: The Road to Basel Begins! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:22
The countdown to the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, is officially underway as nations prepare to select their entries.Steven dives into the latest developments as we brace ourselves for another seaso…
Junior Eurovision 2025 Retrospective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:30
From a bizarre new twist on the voting results to everyone's favourite trend of 2024... AI. The 2024 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, held in Spain, may not have lived up to the lofty heights of last year's contest in Fra…
1993: A Eurovision Like Never Before - Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:25
Eurovision 1993 marked a pivotal moment in the contest's history, being the first to implement a relegation system and featuring an unprecedented number of participants from Eastern Europe. Hosted in the small town of Mi…
1993: A Eurovision Like Never Before - Part I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:27
Eurovision 1993 marked a pivotal moment in the contest's history with the introduction of a pre-qualifying round, a significant change implemented to manage the increasing number of participating countries.In this episod…
A History of The Netherlands at Eurovision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:42
It's been a difficult year for the Netherlands. Following the disqualification of Joost Klein ahead of 2024's Grand Final, in which they were expected to do very well, the country is currently weighing up if it will comp…
What Makes a Great Eurovision Host City? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:14
On this week's Douze Points, following the announcement of next year's Eurovision host city, Steven gives us all a 101 on what really makes a great host city for the song contest. PLUS, it's been an interesting week for…