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
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 as a member of the group Chips. On the night of the final Hurley performed 7th in the running order, following Belgium and preceding the Netherlands. At the close of voting, "When" had picked up 54 points, placing Ireland 10th of the 18 entries. Ireland received one maximum 12 from Italy, which the Irish jury reciprocated by awarding their 12 to the Italian song – oddly, neither country received a maximum vote from any other national jury. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 Ireland was represented by Red Hurley, with the song '"When", at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest,