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Eurovision: Katrina And The Waves star says UK 'back on track' after 'embarrassment'

The singer suggested Sam Ryder and Mae Muller have turned things around

AMSTERDAM - Special Guest Katrina and the Waves during the annual Eurovision in Concert Eurovision party takes place in AFAS Live. ANP SANDER KONING netherlands out - belgium out Credit: ANP/Alamy Live News
Katrina And The Waves were the UK's last Eurovision winners. (ANP/Alamy Live News)

Eurovision legend Katrina has said the UK’s showing at the song contest had been an “embarrassment” but that Sam Ryder and Mae Muller have got things “back on track”.

The singer was the UK’s last Eurovision winner, claiming victory in 1997 for Love Shine A Light as part of Katrina And The Waves.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine as 2023 UK entry Muller prepares to try and claim the Eurovision title, she suggested that things had picked up of late.

Read more: Who is Mae Muller? Meet the UK's Eurovision 2023 entry

Host Lorraine Kelly was praising Ryder, who was runner up last year.

Katrina  Leskanavich singing the winning entry for the Unitede Kingdom  atthe Point Theatre in Dublin, Saturday May 3 1997, as Katrina and the waves  won the  Eurovision Song Contest. Pic John Giles.PA
Katrina And The waves won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997. (PA)

“The UK is back on track, the UK is back on track,” agreed Katrina.

“It has been an embarrassment.

“I mean, there were years when the phone would ring, ‘Well what do you think of this year’s?’ and I just thought, I’m not going to say anything because I feel sorry for them.”

She went on: “But we are on track now, Sam was great, Mae is great. Mae is very cool.”

Sam Ryder, the UK Eurovison entrant in 2022, plays to a crowd at the Albert Dock in Liverpool, north west England on May 11, 2023 ahead of the second semi final. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sam Ryder was runner-up in 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

The 63-year-old also talked about how the competition is a much bigger spectacle these days than it was when she won.

“Compared to now it was a barn dance,” she joked.

“I mean, you see the lights now, I’m surprised there wasn’t a blackout of electricity all across the UK when the semi-finals started.

“There’s a global shortage of sequins and glitter!”

Mae Muller of the United Kingdom performs during dress rehearsals at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mae Muller is this year's Eurovision Song Contest entry. (AP)

Katrina said of her own performance: “I was wearing the clothes I'd worn all week. The stylist came in and tried to put me in a Union flag dress so I was like, I don’t think so.

Read more: Eurovision: How many times has the UK won the contest?

“It was just a bit of a shambles. I was wearing a coat that only had one shoulder pad!”

Watch: Songs that could win Eurovision and the novelty acts to look out for