UK: Peak of 7.7 million watch contest

Overnight viewing figures are in from the BBC and considering the result, they are not too bad at all.

Michael Rice on stage in Tel Aviv 2019

Last night saw Michael Rice perform his entry "Bigger Than Us" on the ESC stage in Tel Aviv, Israel coming last place in the Grand Final (26th overall) with the combined jury and televote count. Although the United Kingdom has not done well in results in recent years, the contest still proves to be a draw for the nation, with the contest the second highest viewed programme on television this year for the BBC, behind Stictly Come Dancing. There was a peak of 7.7 million viewers tuning in to the broadcast from Tel Aviv settling at around 6.9 million. This is on a par with the viewing figures released from Portugal's broadcast back in 2018. The United Kingdom first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and holds the record for the most consecutive appearances. The UK has won the contest five times with the last win back in 1997 with Katrina & The Waves song "Love Shine A Light". The nation also holds the record for the most second place finishes, having been runner-up a whopping 15 times. Since the year 2000, the UK has only finished top ten twice with Jessica Garlick's 2002 entry and Jade Ewan's entry in Russia in 2009.