Inside Eurovision's biggest flops from Katie Price to Rita Ora

Irish Daily Mirror

13-05-2025

The UK's journey in Eurovision has been a tumultuous one. We've experienced the highs of Bucks Fizz's unforgettable skirt-ripping performance and Lulu's swinging sixties victory but recent years have seen more nil points than national celebrations.
However, Sam Ryder managed to turn the tide in 2022, securing second place and reigniting hope for the UK's pop future on the international stage. Yet, beneath the sequins and dramatic key changes, there's an intriguing fact: several of Britain's most well-known celebrities have tried their luck at Eurovision... and spectacularly failed.
While some famous faces were rejected by the public vote, others didn't even survive the BBC's ruthless selection process. The likes of Rita Ora, Katie Price and Michelle Gayle might surprise fans – all once eager to represent the country.
But they didn't make the grade and one significant star decided to step back entirely, worried it would damage their career, reports the Express. Let's delve into the UK's biggest Eurovision disappointments and the renowned names who gave it their best shot, only to fall flat.
Now a worldwide chart sensation and a regular on the red carpet – but in 2009, Rita Ora was an ambitious 18-year-old with dreams of Eurovision stardom.
The soon-to-be pop royalty auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One with a rendition of Oleta Adams' Get Here, impressing judges including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rita initially breezed through to the finals and was on the verge of representing the UK, but she stepped down, wary that a Eurovision connection might sour her prospects in the music world.
"I was very excited," she confessed to Idris Elba on his 2022 podcast. "But I felt that it was not my time and that this was not my path in the music industry."
She heeded advice from her manager Sarah Stennett, who posited that participating in Eurovision could hinder her quest to be taken seriously as an artist. Subsequently, Jade Ewen took her place, performing It's My Time and securing fifth position for the UK, an impressive achievement given recent standings.
In 2023, Rita graced the Eurovision stage, though not as a contender but as a star guest, dazzling with a selection of her chart-toppers at the Liverpool semi-final. She described the experience as "a full circle moment".
Katie Price similarly made headlines when she retrospectively declared that she was "stitched up" during her Eurovision bid in 2005 following her stint on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. The ex-model embarked on a foray into pop music, clinching 29 percent of the public vote – just shy of Javine Hylton, who edged her out by one percent.
Javine represented the UK with Touch My Fire and came 22nd. Sporting a hot-pink rubber catsuit while seven months pregnant, Katie Price joined the competition in Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up.
Facing off against an eclectic mix of pop hopefuls including Steps' Lisa Scott-Lee's brother; Javine Hylton, narrowly missing out on Girls Aloud three years before; and Gina G, eager for a comeback with her tune 'Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit', Price entered the fray.
On Loose Women, Katie later confessed: "I was burning with anger and humiliation," feeling that the experience had left her musical reputation diminished. "I felt as if I was in a worse position than before regarding my music. I felt that my credibility had been damaged."
Meanwhile, Anthony Costa from the boyband Blue, scored 11th at Eurovision 2011, but his earlier attempt for solo glory in 2006 didn't take off.
The up-and-coming singer put forward a ballad titled It's A Beautiful Thing during the UK's Eurovision selection, aiming to win hearts and a ticket to the grand competition. However, the crowd decided differently, favouring Daz Sampson's unconventional school-themed rap 'Teenage Life', which ultimately staggered into 19th place in Athens with a mere 25 points.
Anthony's solo effort may have been discreetly swept aside, but he didn't miss his chance for a comeback as he re-joined forces with the Blue boys in 2011. Their Eurovision number I Can was a breath of fresh air for the UK, storming into the top 15 and charming listeners all over Europe.
Before she served ale on the cobbles of Coronation Street, Kym Marsh was wowing audiences with her vocal prowess and even took a shot at flying the flag for the UK in Eurovision. Despite being a household name back in 2006, the former Hear'Say vocalist and now soap favourite didn't manage to clinch the public's backing with her tune Whisper To Me during the national selection round.
Her rise to fame wasn't new though. Kym first grabbed headlines in 2001 with pop sensation Hear'Say, following their smash hit Pure and Simple hitting the chart summit. Yet, as swiftly as they soared to success, Hear'Say crumbled, prompting Kym to part ways and venture into solo waters.
Come 2006, Kym made an attempt at a musical comeback through Eurovision but only took fourth place amongst six contenders on BBC's 'Making Your Mind Up', ultimately losing out to Daz and his track Teenage Life.
Kym reflected on the Eurovision endeavour stating: "I thought it would be a bit of fun and it would have been a lovely thing to represent my country," although conceding to the premonitions she'd heard about the contest being "a bit cheesy".