United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 explained

Year:1959
Country:United Kingdom
Preselection:Eurovision Song Contest British Final
Preselection Date:Semi-finals
2 February 1959
5 February 1959
Final
7 February 1959
Entrant:Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
Song:Sing, Little Birdie
Final Result:2nd, 16 points

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) organised a national final to select the United Kingdom's entry for the contest. The song selected was "Sing, Little Birdie", performed by Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson. The song placed second in the contest, at the time the United Kingdom's best result in the competition, and remained so until their first victory in .

Before Eurovision

Prior to the 1959 contest, the United Kingdom had participated in the contest once, in, represented by Patricia Bredin with the song "All". The song placed 7th in a field of 10 entries.[1] The country declined to take part in the inaugural contest in, as the BBC had created their own contest, the Festival of British Popular Songs, aspects of which influenced the 1957 contest. The BBC initially intended to participate in but ultimately withdrew.[2]

Eurovision Song Contest British Final

Eurovision Song Contest British Final
Year:1959
Venue:BBC Television Theatre
Host:BBC
Winner:"Sing Little Birdie" by Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
Presenters:Pete Murray
Entries:12

The Eurovision Song Contest British Final was a national final organised by the BBC to select the United Kingdom's entry for the contest. The selection consisted of two semi-finals held on 2 February and 5 February 1959, and a final held on 7 February 1959, broadcast on BBC Television and presented by Pete Murray.[3]

The songs were scored by seven 14-member regional juries representing the South of England, the Midlands, Northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the West of England.

Competing entries

Twelve entries were shortlisted by the BBC for the contest. "I'll Be With You" was originally scheduled to be performed by Alma Cogan, but was replaced by Marion Keene.

ArtistSongSongwriter(s)
Alma Cogan"I'll Be With You"Lee Lennox
Don Rennie"How Could I Know"Tommy Sampson, Barbara Nelson
Glen Mason"Suddenly"Michael Pratt
John Hanson"Success"Ralph Ruvin, Harold Irving, Dick James
Lester Ferguson"This I Will Tell My Son"Terry and Irene Roper
Lita Roza"This Is My Town"John S Rossiter, Harold Cornelius, Dominic John, Bob Halfin
Marion Keene"I'll Be With You"Lee Lennox
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson"Sing Little Birdie"Stan Butcher, Syd Cordell
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson"That's It, That's Love"Sam Johnson
Rosemary Squires"Cha Cha Chocola"Max Francis, Bill Craig
Sheila Buxton"Love Me, Love Me"Norman Percival
Steve Martin"One Lonely Heart"Peter Callander, Dick James
Valerie Shane"Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love"Michael Pratt

Shows

Semi-final 1

Semi-final 1 was held on 2 February 1959. The highlighted songs qualified for the final.[3]

Semi-final 1 – 2 February 1959
Draw Artist SongResult
1 Sheila Buxton "Love Me, Love Me"Eliminated
2 Steve Martin "One Lonely Heart"Advanced
3 Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson"Sing, Little Birdie"Advanced
4 Don Rennie "How Could I Know"Eliminated
5 Glen Mason"Suddenly"Advanced
6 Marion Keene "I'll Be With You"Eliminated
Semi-final 2

Semi-final 2 was held on 5 February 1959. The highlighted songs qualified for the final.[3]

Semi-final 2 – 5 February 1959
Draw Artist SongResult
1 Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson"That's It, That's Love"Eliminated
2 John Hanson "Success"Advanced
3 Rosemary Squires "Cha Cha Chocola"Eliminated
4 Lester Ferguson "This I Will Tell My Son"Eliminated
5 Valerie Shane "Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love"Advanced
6 Lita Roza "This Is My Town"Advanced
Final

The final was held on 7 February 1959 at 19:30 GMT.[3]

Final – 7 February 1959
Draw Artist Song Place
1 Valerie Shane "Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love" 5
2 Steve Martin "One Lonely Heart" 4
3 Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson"Sing Little Birdie" 1
4 John Hanson "Success" 6
5 Glen Mason"Suddenly" 3
6 Lita Roza "This Is My Town" 2

At Eurovision

In the final, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson performed tenth in the running order, following and preceding . At the close of the voting "Sing Little Birdie" had received 16 points, placing United Kingdom 2nd in a field of 11 entries. The British jury awarded 5 of its 10 points to .[4]

Voting

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Final of Frankfurt 1957 - Eurovision Song Contest. 24 May 2019. eurovision.tv.
  2. Web site: Shining a light on the United Kingdom: 60 Years at Eurovision. 11 January 2017. 24 May 2019. eurovision.tv.
  3. Web site: Eurovision Song Contest of 1959: British Final. 24 May 2019. songs4europe.com.
  4. https://www.esc-history.com/details.php?key=0044 ESC History - Eurovision - United Kingdom 1959
  5. Web site: Results of the Final of Cannes 1959 . Eurovision Song Contest . 27 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210327213615/https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/final/results/united-kingdom . 27 March 2021 . live.