The Eurovision Song Contest is back this year and excitement is building as fans across the globe head to Liverpool for the big event.
Liverpool was announced as the host city of Eurovision in 2022, after winners Ukraine could not hold the competition for safety and security reasons due to the ongoing invasion by Russia. As a result, the UK, who placed second last year with Sam Ryder's Space Man, are hosting the show this year.
The contest began way back in 1956 and has seen winners such as ABBA, Loreen, Netta and Maneskin achieve global success. And whilst the UK hasn't had the best of times in more recent years, we have claimed the title five times since the 1960s.
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The UK's five time record comes joint with Luxembourg and France, only topped by Ireland who have won it seven times. The last time the UK won Eurovision was 26 years ago in 1997 when Katrina and the Waves triumphed with Love Shine A Light.
And this year, Mae Muller will fly the flag for the United Kingdom in Liverpool's Eurovision Song Contest. As Liverpool gears up to host Europe, we take a look back at every UK entry to win The Eurovision Song Contest
Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String (1967)
Over a decade after the Eurovision Song Contest began, the UK finally struck gold with their first ever winner. Aged 20, Sandie Shaw, from Dagenham, was one of the faces of the 1960s and won performing song Puppet On A String.
Sandie brought home the trophy with a total of 47 points in Vienna, with Ireland coming in second place. The barefoot icon had already achieved two number one singles, with her Eurovision success providing a third smash hit.
At one time, she held the record as the first British female singer ever to have three number one records. Securing a place in Eurovision's hall of fame, Puppet On A String was a global hit.
Lulu - Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969 tie)
Two years on from Sandie Shaw's success, Scottish singer Lulu competed for the UK in 1969 in Spain. Performing song Boom Bang-a-Bang, Lulu was part of a four-way tie for winner that year along with the Netherlands, France, and Spain.
All the countries scored 18 points and as a result, it was time for the voting and judging system to be updated. Altered rules for future competitions meant ties like this would not happen again.
After her win, Lulu went on to release 15 pop and pop-rock studio albums. Today, the singer is still best known for songs To Sir, With Love, Shout and The Man With the Golden Gun, which was the title song for the 1974 James Bond film of the same name.
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Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses for Me (1976)
By the 1970s, the UK secured their third Eurovision win with band Brotherhood of Man. The original line-up consisted of Lee Sheriden, Martin Lee., Nicky Stevens and Sandra Stevens.
In 1976, the competition was held in The Hague, Netherlands. A worldwide hit, the hugely popular tune Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man is still loved and remembered today.
Selling an excess of 6 million sold copies, to this day it remains one of the biggest Eurovision singles of all time. The win lead to the 1977 contest being hosted at Wembley, where the UK finished in second place.
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Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (1981)
A fourth win for the UK, Bucks Fizz's entry is perhaps one of the most remembered and catchy songs for Eurovision fans. And who could forget that iconic skirt reveal.
In 1981, the pop quartet - consisting of members Mike Nolan, Bobby G, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston - took home the title with Making Your Mind Up. The competition took place in Ireland and the Bucks Fizz hit song went on to sell more than four million copies.
The band would go on to achieve hits across the globe with hits like The Land Of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies. As a result, the following year the contest was held at Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate.
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Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine a Light (1997)
Last but not least - the UK's most recent Eurovision Song Contest winner was Katrina and the Waves 26 years ago. The band, fronted by Katrina Leskanich won in 1997 with song Love Shine a Light.
The song was originally written as a track for the Samaritans organisation, but several friends and colleagues convinced Katrina to enter it into that years’ Song For Europe. The song won by a landslide, with a then record margin of 70 points over Ireland, who came second.
Since the competition, Katrina has presented the Congratulations 50th-anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005, which took place in Copenhagen. The victory meant the last to host the contest in the UK was Birmingham in 1998 - until Liverpool this year.
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