The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 with the song "A Message to Your Heart", written by Paul Curtis, and performed by Samantha Janus. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.
Before Eurovision
A Song for Europe 1991 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) held A Song for Europe 1991 on 29 March 1991, hosted by Terry Wogan. Following the somewhat negative comments by one member of the celebrity panel in 1990, the panel idea was dropped in 1991. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Ronnie Hazlehurst as conductor accompanied all the songs, the musicians appearing on camera for the first time since 1978.
The eight songs in contention to represent the United Kingdom were presented during Terry Wogan's Wogan chat show on BBC1. Two songs were presented during each of four broadcasts between 20 and 27 March.
A separate results show was broadcast on BBC1 the same evening. BBC Radio 2 simulcast the final, with commentary by Ken Bruce, but did not broadcast the results show.
Malcolm Roberts had been one of six singers who had jointly represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, thus becoming the second entrant in a British national final to have participated in Eurovision for another nation, after Dan Duskey (aka Michael Palace) in 1986.
+ A Song for Europe 199129 March 1991 Artist Song Composer(s) Televote Place 1 The Ravenscroft Partnership "We Will Protect You" Raf Ravenscroft, Julian Littman, R. Young 36,047 5 2 Christopher Ellis "Straight to Your Heart" Christopher Ellis 14,231 7 3 Samantha Janus "A Message to Your Heart" Paul Curtis 108,896 1 4 Christie "Nothing On This Earth" Nigel Stock 17,296 6 5 Malcolm Roberts "One Love" Malcolm Roberts 11,250 8 6 Lorraine Craig "A Little Bit of Heaven" Tony Moore 61,589 3 7 Julie Finney "True Love" Bim Sinclair, Bud Sinclair 58,146 4 8 Brendan Faye "Lover Come In" Brendan Faye 95,696 2
At Eurovision Samantha Janus went on to represent United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, she performed 20th on the night, after Spain and before Cyprus, finishing 10th with 47 points. Her backing singers on the night (as they had been in the UK final) were Zoe Picot, Lucy Moorby and Lyn Paul's sister Nikki Belcher. They were supported at the back of the stage by session singers Hazell Dean and former Belle and the Devotions lead singer Kit Rolfe.
The contest was broadcast on BBC1 and BBC World Service Television (with commentary by Terry Wogan) and on radio station BBC Radio 2 (with commentary by Ken Bruce) Voting
+ Points awarded to the United Kingdom Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
+ Points awarded by the United Kingdom Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
References