Eurovision 2019 UK: Michael Rice place to last but he WON’T get null points?
EUROVISION is airing on BBC One this evening, and it seems as though the UK will come in last place, but luckily for Michael Rice, data suggests he won’t end with null points.
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Eurovision has proven to be a very tough competition for the UK’s latest entries.
The song’s the UK have entered have a tendency of coming in the bottom half of the table at the end of the night.
The last time the UK did relatively well at Eurovision was in 2011 when Blue came in eleventh place with 100 points.
Since then, it’s been pretty dismal since then. However, this year, Michael Rice is trying to change that with his entry, Bigger Than Us.
Unfortunately, it’s not looking good for the UK’s 2019 Eurovision entry as it’s been predicted that he’ll come last.
However, it’s also been suggested that his entry will end up getting 75 points, which isn’t quite as bad as the null point the UK got in 2003 with Gemini’s entry, Cry Baby.
This comes courtesy of a Eurovision prediction algorithm which has forecast the UK to register 75 points in this year’s competition - a total that would leave hopeful Michael Rice finishing in the bottom five.
This algorithm was put together by spread betting firm StarSpreads.com, which factored in variables such as past performances, voting patterns and critical reception to make their prediction.
A StarSpreads.com spokesman said: “Our calculations make for grim reading for the UK and it looks a certainty that the wait for not only victory but a respectable finish goes on.
“Unless there’s to be a huge shock on the night, a score of 75 points leaves Rice in real danger of finishing in the bottom five again, with the threat of another wooden spoon looming large.
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“Our Eurovision forecasting algorithm factors in a range of variables and on every single one of them the UK scores amongst the most poorly in the competition, in keeping with our current relationship with Europe.
“As far as the prediction is concerned, sadly it’s more a case of who’ll be badder than us, not bigger than us.”
They then put Michael Rice’s chances of winning at 0.5 per cent, and his chance of finishing bottom at 25 per cent.
It certainly doesn’t make for pleasant reading for the British Eurovision fans out there.
That said, should Michael Rice end up with 75 points, that would be the best performance from a UK entry since Lucy Jones came 15th with 111 points in 2017.
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Before her, you’d have to go as far back at 2011 to find a points tally which would be better than 75.
According to a 2018 Telegraph analysis, there are three main voting blocs – the Balkans, the former Soviet Union and Scandinavia, and they tend to share the votes out amongst one another.
Sometimes the voting is especially transparent: for example the relationship between Russia and Belarus, and Greece and Cyprus.
Eurovision Song Contest airs tonight on BBC One at 8pm.