Latest news with #PuppetonaString
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Eurovision's curse from fatal plane crash to drug addiction as string of artists' lives are ruined after contest
Read on to discover the string of artists whose lives have been ruined after the contest TRAGIC TUNES Inside Eurovision's curse from fatal plane crash to drug addiction as string of artists' lives are ruined after contest Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Eurovision song contest is known for its wacky performances, colourful costumes and cheesy song lyrics. But for some of its memorable contestants, life has taken a darker turn in the years since their big moment on stage. 7 Mae Muller is competing for the UK at the Eurovision song contest, held in Liverpool Credit: PA Aa girlband Remember Monday prepare to fly the flag for Brits tonight with a song titled What The Hell Just Happened?, we take a look at the bitter band break-ups, financial woes and unexpected tragedies that have hit Eurovision stars. Sandie Shaw Singer Sandie, now 76, went down in history as the first act to give Britain a win at Eurovision back in 1967 with her rendition of Puppet on a String. She was already a well-known singer when she entered the competition, with two number one singles under her belt. But her life hasn't been rosy since her triumph. 7 Sandie was the first British act to win Eurovision back in 1967 A year after her victory she married fashion designer Jeff Banks, but the pair divorced just over a decade later in 1978. Sandie accused her ex of blowing her fortune on his struggling career, leaving her and their daughter destitute to the point where they had to go and live in a caravan. The couple didn't speak for years, but in 2020 Sandie revealed she had forgiven Banks and they were talking again. She told the Person of Interest podcast: "When he was losing all my money without asking I thought that was part of being married. It was a real wake-up call to me that that's not how it is. "I was with my mother-in-law, in the caravan, with my daughter, and we used to sit and knit squares in all different colours. Rainbow colours as a sign of our hope, wishing for something to turn out OK." Sandie retired from music in 2013 and is now married to her third husband, psychologist Tony Bedford. Bucks Fizz 7 Bucks Fizz won Eurovision in 1981 before a bitter set of breakups years later Credit: Rex Former UK winners Bucks Fizz, whose track Making Your Mind Up was the favourite in 1981, were riding high on success until a horror crash in 1984. A bus crash in Newcastle broke the spine of band member Cheryl Baker, now 69, and put Mike Nolan, 68, in a three-day coma, causing life-changing injuries. Both were catapulted through the windscreen, and at one point Mike was given his last rites in hospital due to internal bleeding and head injuries that left him fighting for life. He pulled through, but developed epilepsy, lost 50 per cent of his vision in both eyes and became withdrawn, showing signs of personality change - though he's since claimed he's back to his old self. Jay Aston, 62, and Bobby G, 69, were also injured but less seriously. The group split a year later, with Jay announcing she was leaving following an affair with Andy Hill, the husband of the group's creator, Nichola Martin. In a bid to keep the group going, Shelley Preston was brought in as a replacement - but she left after just a year. David Van Day was later drafted in, but when he too left it triggered a court case over the name of the band and who could use it - resulting in Bobby G keeping the naming rights. Since then the group has had numerous members and now exists without a single person from the original line-up. Last year Jay revealed she was broke, leading to fans and former band members offering to help her out. It comes after she battled mouth cancer and her daughter was hospitalised with meningitis. Alexander Rybak 7 Alexander struggled with an addiction to sleeping pills and anti-depressants Credit: AP:Associated Press Norwegian winner Alexander, 36, set the record for the most points ever awarded in 2009 when he scored 387 for his song Fairytales. He made a second entry for the show in 2018 with That's How You Write A Song, but it didn't win. In 2020 Alexander revealed that behind closed doors, he was struggling with an addiction to sleeping pills and antidepressants. He wrote online: "I've been living with a secret. For 11 years I have been addicted to sleep medications and antidepressants. It started out harmless, but in the end, it almost ruined my life. "This January I started rehab (with good help from my doctors) and little by little I'm starting to feel like myself again. "During the past years, the pills made me weak and scared. It affected not only my brain but also my muscles and stomach. It destroyed my relationships to people, but most importantly it almost destroyed my will to live." He has since enrolled at Columbia College Chicago and is still releasing new music and updating fans about his life on social media. Niamh Kavanagh 7 Niamh gave up showbusiness following her husband's debilitating stroke in 2018 In 1993, Niamh clenched Ireland's second victory at Eurovision with her rendition of In Your Eyes. She returned to compete again in 2010 with It's for You but couldn't replicate her previous success - placing 23rd overall. Tragically, in 2018, Niamh's husband Paul Megahey suffered a debilitating stroke while she was performing on stage. It left him unable to speak, but he is slowly recovering, though doctors have warned he'll never regain all of his abilities. Niamh, 55, decided to quit fame and now works at Tesco as a customer assistant alongside her son. Speaking about Paul, she told the Irish Sun: "He's doing very well. His speech is still a little hesitant at times but that's part of who he's going to be I think. "It has taken a lot of his energy to recover from it and to make himself not to feel self-conscious." Örs Siklósi 7 Örs died from Leukaemia three years after the band appeared on Eurovision Credit: Getty Hungarian Örs was the lead singer of Eurovision entry AWS who performed in the 2018 competition. Tragically, three years later, his bandmates announced he had passed away aged just 29. They wrote online: "To say the unspeakable, to describe the indescribable. That is what we now have to do. In June, Örs was diagnosed with leukaemia and now we are deeply saddened to inform you that he passed away yesterday. "He wanted to open up about his illness last month, he had planned to release his fist solo record this spring and we were set to make the fifth AWS record and play shows again this fall. During this period his bravery and dignity were exemplary." The band is still performing and have a new lead singer. Alexandrov Ensemble Choir 7 The choir performed during a break with t.A.T.u when the contest was hosted by Russia Credit: AP One of the worst tragedies in Eurovision history happened on Christmas Day 2016, when the majority of the Alexandrov choir were killed in a plane crash. The group had performed Not Gonna Get Us with t.A.T.u during the song contest's interval in 2009, when the event was hosted in Moscow. The choir was travelling to a Christmas celebration with troops at a military base when the Russian military aircraft they were on crashed off the coast of Sochi while en route to Syria. All 92 people on board were killed, including around 60 members of the group. The choir is still going and currently markets itself as The Red Army Choir.
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The one time Eurovision came to Scotland and ended with police on the scene
As the major song competition approaches, lets take a look back to the chaotic night Edinburgh hosted the contest in the seventies. As preparations ramp up for another Eurovision Song Contest, attention turns back to a particularly memorable and somewhat chaotic night when Edinburgh stepped onto the European stage to host the competition back in the seventies. Following Monaco's victory in 1971, the UK capital found itself hosting the event after the winning nation was unable to find a suitable venue. This was a period when Britain genuinely had strong prospects of winning the contest, having previously hosted just four years prior after Sandie Shaw's triumph with Puppet on a String which earned 47 points, Edinburgh Live reported. In 1972, with the contest coming to Scotland for the first and only time, Britain was considered a firm favourite. The UK's selected performers, The New Seekers, were set to perform their entry, Beg, Steal or Borrow. The song was already popular, with 250,000 copies of the single sold before the final. On the eve of the event, bookmakers offered top odds of 7 to 2 for a British victory. Hosted by the elegant Moira Shearer, a former ballerina and film actress, the competition unfolded at the Usher Hall featuring all 18 participating countries. Other UK cities that have hosted include Brighton, Harrogate, Birmingham, and London. In a surprising twist, the UK entry failed to secure the top position. Scooping up two crucial votes of 10 points, one from the UK and one from Yugoslavia, Luxembourg ultimately beat Britain out by a margin of 14 points. Despite coming second on the night, The New Seekers went on to achieve considerable success, landing two UK number one singles, both ranking among the top 30 best selling singles of the 1970s. Luxembourg's winning performer, Vicky Leandros, admitted her surprise, telling the Daily Mirror: 'I was very surprised when I won. To be honest, I expected Britain to win.' Adding typical Eurovision dramatics, the event was brought to an early end following a series of minor alarms and one arrest. Before the contest went live on air, audiences were startled by a man shouting towards the stage. An article published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal at the time described the situation, reporting: 'He was apparently complaining that pupils from an Edinburgh school had been unable to obtain tickets. But he resumed his seat and the event began." Later in the evening, the audience were again surprised by small crackling detonations seeming to come from the floor. Officials recovered 'small percussive pellets' from the area. An Edinburgh police spokesman confirmed the events, stating: 'Following the scattering of a noxious substance upon the floor, a man has been arrested and is set to appear in court.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Perhaps the moments depicted in films like Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga are not entirely without historical precedent after all. Despite the unexpected disruptions, the contest was a major global television event. Thought to have brought in audiences of 400 million, it was watched by viewers around the world, including from as far afield as Brazil. A review of the 1972 event published by the Stage said: 'The Eurovision Song Contest is the best example in television of the massive oversell. But credit where credit is due, and let me say at the outset that of all the Eurovision Song Contests I have sat through this was, in strict television terms, by far the best.' Watch the full contest below.
Edinburgh Live
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Remembering the frenzied night Edinburgh hosted Eurovision which saw police called
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info As we prepare for another Eurovision Song Contest, we're looking back on a chaotic night when Edinburgh hosted back in the '70s. After the 1971 contest winners, Monaco, couldn't find a suitable venue - the UK stepped in and held it here in the capital. This was back at a time when we actually had a shot at winning. Eurovision had come to the UK only four years before this, with Sandie Shaw taking in 47 point for Puppet on a String. But 1972 was Scotland's time to shine, and Britain was a firm favourite. The selected performers for the UK, the New Seekers, were set to perform Beg, Steal or Borrow. Prior to the final, 250,000 copies of the single had already been sold. The night before, bookies were offering top odds of 7 to 2 for Britain. Hosted by Moira Shearer, a former ballerina and film actress, the event saw all 18 participating countries perform at the Usher Hall. Despite what Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams may have you believe, this is the one and only time that the singing competition has come to Scotland. It has been hosted in Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham as well as London. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox In a shock twist, the UK's entry failed to reach the top spot. After voting from the jurors, it became clear that Luxembourg was likely to win. Scooping up two votes of 10 points - one from the UK and one from Yugoslavia, Luxembourg beat us out by 14 points. The New Seekers, after coming second in the competition, went on to have two UK number one singles - both listed in the top 30 best selling singles for the 1970s. Luxembourg's winning performer, Vicky Leandros, was as shocked as anyone after her win. She told the Daily Mirror: 'I was very surprised when I won. To be honest, I expected Britain to win.' In the typical dramatics of Eurovision, the event came to an early end after a series of minor alarms and one arrest. Before the contest went on air, audiences were shocked by a man shouting towards the stage. An article published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal described the situation: 'He was apparently complaining that pupils from an Edinburgh school had been unable to obtain tickets. But he resumed his seat and the event began." Later on in the evening, the audience was once again surprised by small crackling detonations that seemed to come from the floor. Officials recovered from the floor 'small percussive pellets.' An Edinburgh police spokesman said: 'Following the scattering of a noxious substance upon the floor, a man has been arrested and is set to appear in court.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Perhaps the dramatics of Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga aren't all that outlandish. Thought to have brought in audiences of 400 million, the contest was watched around the world - with viewers from as far as Brazil. A review of the 1972 event published by the Stage reads: 'The Eurovision Song Contest is the best example in television of the massive oversell. But credit where credit is due, and let me say at the outset that of all the Eurovision Song Contests I have sat through this was, in strict television terms, by far the best.' Watch the full contest below. This article was first published on March 23, 2022.
