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The Euro Years
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1960
Winners: France
UK Placing: 2nd
Again, a story of what might have been sees the UK narrowly beaten into second place by France. Continuing the Eurovision trend for banal song titles, Bryan Johnson sings 'Looking High High High' for the UK as Radio 2's David Jacobs supplies the commentary on home soil. Eurovision fact: Bryan Johnson is actually Teddy's brother (see Eurovision 1959). The talented musical family spawned two Euro legends, both finishing 2nd.
1961
Winners: Luxembourg
UK Placing: 2nd
Another silver medal! In what should have been a glory year, The Allisons take the UK into second again. Singing their self penned, 'Are You Sure?', the show is stolen by the unforgettable chorus of the French entry 'Binge Bong, Binge Bong'.
1962
Winners: France
UK Placing: 4th
France win again and the UK entry, Ronnie 'The Minstrel' Carroll singing 'Ring A Ding Girl', finishes fourth. Belgium make infamous Eurovision history by being the first nation ever to score a full 'nil points'.
1963
Winners: Denmark
UK Placing: 4th
Eurovision returns to London and the dream team of Katie Boyle and David Jacobs take to the commentary seats. Ronnie Carroll (real name Ronald Cleghorn) also makes a comeback and again, is condemned to fourth, with 'Say Wonderful Things'.
Legendary Greek chanteuse Nana Mouskouri represents Luxembourg. Denmark walk away with the top prize.
1964
Winners: Italy
UK Placing: 2nd
The Italians win for the first time, beating the UK's Matt Monro and 'I Love The Little Things' into 2nd. Munro went on to sing the theme tune for the James Bond film, 'From Russia with Love.'
1965
Winners: Luxembourg
UK Placing: 2nd
A nation barely the size of Barnsley somehow manages to yet again pip the UK entry into the runners up position (the fifth time in eight years!). Kathy Kirby does the honours for the UK with 'I Belong'. Luxembourg wins, with a song by Frenchman Serge Gainsbourg, sung by 17 year-old France Gall.
1966
Winners: Luxembourg
UK Placing: 2nd
Despite the nation reeling from football World Cup glory, the UK entry finishes a lame 7th as Kenneth McKellar wears his kilt to sing 'A Man Without Love'. Only two out of the other 17 countries bother voting for him, leaving McKellar to ponder his ironic choice of song title.
1967
Winners: UK
UK Placing: 1st
The UK finally pops its Eurovision cherry as sultry, bare-footed hippy, Sandie Shaw purrs her way through 'Puppet On A String' in Vienna. Bizarrely, Rolf Harris supplies the commentary.
1968
Winners: Spain
UK Placing: 2nd
Cliff Richard, the Godfather, is cruelly robbed of victory in the Royal Albert Hall by Spain's 'La La La'. Cliff's seminal 'Congratulations' finishes second as Spain's incredulous entry manages to use the word 'La' 138 times and steals victory by a single point. The Irish entry is sung by Pat McGeegan, interestingly, the father of Irish boxer, Barry McGuigan.
1969
Winners: UK, Spain, France & Netherlands
UK Placing: 1st (joint)
The ginger bombshell Lulu, brings the UK a second victory, marred only by having to share the title with 3 other Eurovision heavyweights, France, Spain and Netherlands. Lulu's swashbuckling 'Boom Bang a Bang' even managed to pip the ivory tinkling and crooning of a certain Elton John for the right to compete for the UK at one of the most hotly contested competitions to date.
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