BBC bosses secretly ‘relieved’ UK 70s act lost Eurovision ‘Definitely didn’t want to host’ | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV
In the UK, Eurovision and the BBC have gone hand in hand for decades with the national broadcaster beaming the ceremony to millions of TV screens year after year. However, as revealed in Channel 5 documentary Eurovision: Secrets and Scandals, there was one year when channel bosses were secretly hoping for success to land on a different nation’s shores.
The Channel 5 narrator explained: “When the UK hosted (Eurovision) in 1977, things were made even more complicated because the country was gripped by widespread industrial action.”
“(This) meant that the BBC’s camera crews and technicians were on strike.”
Eurovision Expert, Gordon Roxburgh, added more context: “This industrial action actually affected the Eurovision Song Contest itself because the BBC couldn’t guarantee that it could go ahead.”
The Channel 5 voiceover continued: “At the time, this was the closest the contest ever came to being cancelled.
READ MORE: Eurovision fans threaten final ‘boycott’ over Ireland and San Marino
Eurovision Expert Dr Paul Jordan explained: “In 2009, documents were released from a BBC meeting which showed they were actually relieved the UK hadn’t won in 1977.
“They definitely didn’t want to host Eurovision again – it’s a costly event.”
The show’s host continued: “According to the minutes of a meeting between BBC governors, when it seemed that the UK was winning the contest and would have to pay for it again in 1978, BBC faces at Wembley had grown longer and longer.
“Another governor said the evening had been of grasping vulgarity that he could not bear to watch.”
In the end, the BBC bosses in question got their wish as the UK missed out on glory in 1977.
With the contest still going strong in 2022, however, UK entry Sam Ryder has the full backing of everyone as head to Turin, Italy.
After the last contest saw the UK finish rock bottom with 0 points, TikTok star Sam’s odds look much more favorable to finish higher up the leaderboard.
Eurovision: Secrets and Scandals is available to stream on My5 now.
