BUCKS FIZZ STAR SAYS IRELAND MAY WIN
THE DARKER SIDE OF SONG CONTEST – PAGES 26&27
EUROVISION legend Cheryl Baker, broadcaster Marty Whelan and TV host Graham Norton have all backed Bambie Thug to win the song contest.
The Bucks Fizz star, who won the song contest in 1981, told Heart Bingo that Bambie can go all the way to glory in tonight’s final with Doomsday Blue.
She said: “I love Ireland’s entry. They have a very strong entry from Bambie Thug this year, which I think will finish in the top three in the final and I even think can win it!
“They definitely have a better chance than Olly Alexander and the UK.”
She added: “The song is so weird, it’s so dark but then transforms into what I would describe as a typical Irish song.”
“I also think that Ireland have added motivation to get the crown back from Sweden as they’ve both won Eurovision seven times now...”
She continued: “Ireland will be in the top three and can win it, and then Ukraine have a strong song as well, so they could be up there too.”
Blast
Baker and Bucks Fizz won Eurovision in Dublin back in 1981 for the UK – and she says she had a blast performing in Ireland’s capital city.
She explained: “Being in Dublin and performing there was brilliant, what a great city to have the Eurovision in.
“When we won, and we weren’t expecting to win, they quickly had to arrange a party for us back at our hotel as they didn’t think we’d win! The whole world thought it would be Germany.”
Meanwhile RTE star Marty Whelan (67) has said Ireland is “in with a great chance” to win the Eurovision.
Speaking to Colm O Mongain on RTE Radio 1’s Today, the broadcaster, who has been providing commentary at Eurovision for 25 years, said
Bambie
Thug is a “revelation”.
He said: “When you look at Bambie Thug and the performance, it is just that – it is a performance. It’s turned out for us to be a revelation in some ways.
“We’re really, really happy about it. We are hanging on to a Top Five feeling. At the moment, between Croatia and ourselves, there’s a very strong sense that we are going to do exceptionally well.”
Norton (61), who also gave the song a thumbs up, said:
“It’s like they’ve won already. So they got through and it’s the first time in ages, and actually they’re tipped to do very well. You know, probably top 10 I imagine.”
The presenter will provide commentary for the event live on BBC One.