LUCIE DID US PROUD IN EUROVISION COMP
WALES’ Lucie Jones did Britain proud in last night’s Eurovision Song Contest. The 26-year-old from Pentyrch, near Cardiff, was chosen as the UK entry after winning the Eurovision: You Decide.
And she put in a committed performance of Never Give Up On You for the audience in Kiev.
Speaking before the final last night, Jones told how she will be keeping Brexit and European politics firmly out of her mind.
“It’s out of my hands so there is no point in worrying or thinking about it, I am just letting it pass me by,” she said.
And she says taking part in the event has been a surprise.
She said: “I said I would never do another reality TV singing competition again... but then this came around.
“Eurovision is different. It’s amazing. It’s something that I’ve watched my whole life and as a singer you very rarely get the opportunity to represent your country. So I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Lucie first shot to fame when she appeared on The X Factor in 2009, only to be ousted by Simon Cowell in favour of Jedward.
The singer’s song was penned by former Eurovision entrant Emmelie de Forest, The Treatment and songwriter Lawrie Martin.
While the UK has failed to shine in the competition for a number of years, Jones said she believes attitudes towards the country’s potential are changing across the Continent.
She said: “It’s a different feel outside the UK this year, and also within the UK about Eurovision in general – but haters are going to hate and it’s not for everyone. There is a really great team of people working for the UK in Eurovision now and the British public are behind us this year, which feels great.”