Former Eurovision star Sally Ann Triplett: UK should pull out of contest

Sally Ann Triplett has represented the UK at Eurovision twice (Getty Images)
Sally Ann Triplett has represented the UK at Eurovision twice (Getty Images)

Former British Eurovision star Sally Ann Triplett has said the UK should pull out of the contest if it finishes last again.

The One Step Further singer - who has represented the UK twice in the song contest - said Eurovision has become too political.

Triplett, 57, told The Sun: “It’s different now and it’s so political. You can’t compete with the politics of the world. Music isn’t going to compete with that. Recently we’ve not put forward a song that’s any good and is strong enough to win.

“If we do put something in that deserves to win and it comes last, then let’s pull out after that.”

Read more: Britain's Eurovision flop Michael Rice blames Brexit for finishing last

The London-born singer was a member of six-piece band Prima Donna, who came third in Eurovision 1980 with their song Love Enough For Two. Then in 1982 she represnted the UK again as part of duo Bardo, coming seventh.

Last year the UK entrant Michael Rice came last in the song contest with Bigger Than Us, the fourth time the UK has recieved the least votes from rival countries since 2000.

The UK has not won the contest since 1997 when Katrina and the Waves took first place with Love Shine A Light. And the UK has not come higher than 11th place in the past 10 years.

Triplett said: “I’ve not watched it every year, but none of the songs I’ve heard that they’ve used to represent the UK since are any good. It’s not what it used to be. We used to put forward really good songs but we don’t any more.”

Read more: Madonna slammed by Israeli culture minister for political Eurovision performance

The UK entry for Eurovision 2020 is set to be unveiled on Thursday February 27.

Michael Rice of Great Britain performs the song "Bigger Than Us" during the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest grand final rehearsal in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, May 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Michael Rice came last in Eurovision 2019 (AP)

Between 2016 and 2019, the UK public had been allowed to choose who they wanted to represent them at Eurovision by a public vote following televised performances by several contenders. But following the poor track record, this year the BBC have enlisted music company BMG to choose an act.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Saturday May 16.