United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 member of the "Big 5", the United Kingdom automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Prior to the 2018 contest, the United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty times. Thus far, the United Kingdom has won the contest five times: in 1967 with the song "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw, in 1969 with the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, in 1976 with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" performed by Brotherhood of Man, in 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz and
Netherlands in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 selected as the winners of the national selection. Their song for the contest, "Love Me", was released on 6 October 2017. Prior to the 2017 Contest, the Netherlands had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in 2003. The Netherlands have won the contest on one occasion: in 2009 with the song "Click Clack" performed by Ralf Mackenbach. In 2016, the Netherlands placed 8th out of 17 entries with the song "Kisses & Dancin'" performed by the girl band Kisses. On 7 June 2017, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that they would return to the