Put the blame on Brexit, says family of UK’s Eurovision f lop
IT was a night of humiliation which saw the UK finish last.
But the family of Eurovision Song Contest entrant Michael Rice yesterday blamed his abysmal score on ‘politics’ – saying he might have made the top five if it wasn’t for Brexit.
They said his low score was down to the fact other countries simply ‘don’t like us’ for daring to leave the EU.
Mr Rice, 21, came bottom in the competition after receiving just 16 points – three of which came from the public vote.
The Hartlepool-born singer performed power ballad Bigger Than Us in front of a starry background at the final in Tel Aviv, Israel. The song failed to impress viewers and landed the UK in the bottom spot for the first time since 2010.
Meanwhile, Netherlands entry Duncan Laurence won the competition with his song Arcade, scoring 492 points.
But Mr Rice’s family and friends claimed his mortifying position was down to ‘politics’ rather than a weak performance. Mr Rice’s stepfather Steven Langley, 48, said: ‘Michael’s performance was brilliant. He didn’t have a line out of tune, it was perfect, it was excellent.
‘I hoped he would come first but I thought he might come up there in the top five or so at least.’ He added: ‘I don’t think they like our country, do they, for some reason.
‘Brexit has probably got something to do with it, because we are going out of the EU. He’s still a winner! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. He’s got there and he’s done it. He still celebrated last night. He’s not down, he’s happy about it. It’s just one of those things.’ Mr Rice’s grandfather Alan, a forklift driver, was equally defensive – blaming the score on anti-British feeling.
The 66-year-old was one of the 8million UK viewers who watched on Saturday night. He said he was ‘disappointed’ with his grandson’s score as the family expected him to come at least in the top half, but said ‘it could have been worse – he could have had no points’.
He added: ‘It might have been because of Brexit but you don’t know, do you? I think he came in that position because he was representing the UK rather than because of his performance.’
The comments on political tension are in stark contrast to Mr Rice’s claims ahead of the contest. Writing on Twitter on Saturday, he said: ‘Eurovision is a chance for us to all to come together to celebrate love, music and togetherness.’ And he remained defiant yesterday, saying he had ‘absolutely
‘Not because of his performance’
smashed it… regardless of the result. This has honestly been a dream come true.’ The UK has not finished in Eurovision’s top ten in the past decade.
CONGrAtulAtIONS to the uK’s Michael rice for his plucky performance in eurovision 2019. yes, he came last. But we all know why.
Despite euro-bitterness over Brexit, we Brits love this annual naff-fest. Who can forget winners like Spain’s la, la, la, Sweden’s Diggi-loo Diggi-ley and the Netherlands’ Ding-a-Dong?
this year’s winner, also Dutch, is – er – equally memorable.
For the people of these islands, eurovision is a gently amusing reminder that, while the eu excels at wine, cheese, bureaucracy and casual corruption, serious pop ends at Dover.