United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982

United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982
Eurovision Song Contest 1982
Participating broadcaster	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country	United Kingdom
Selection process	A Song for Europe 1982
Selection date	24 March 1982
Competing entry
Song	"One Step Further"
Artist	Bardo
Songwriter	Simon Jefferis
Placement
Final result	7th, 76 points
Participation chronology
◄1981 • 1982 • 1983►

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 with the song "One Step Further", written by Simon Jefferis, and performed by the band Bardo. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, the BBC was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate, after winning the previous edition with the song "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz.

Before Eurovision

A Song for Europe 1982

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used once again the television show A Song for Europe to select its entry, as it had since its debut at the contest in 1957. Terry Wogan once again hosted the contest, which was held on 24 March at Studio 1 of the BBC Television Centre in London. Eight songs were shortlisted from those submitted to the Music Publishers Association. Bucks Fizz were guests at the show, singing their current single "My Camera Never Lies" in a pre-recorded performance. The group were interviewed by Terry Wogan live during the show and group member Bobby G performed backing vocals for the winning artists, Bardo. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Ronnie Hazlehurst as conductor accompanied all the songs, but despite performing live, the orchestra were off-screen, behind the set.

The regional juries voted internally and awarded 15 points to their favourite song, 12 points to the second, 10 points to the third and then 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points in order of preference for the songs from 4th to 8th. The juries were based in Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, London, Manchester and Cardiff.

Bardo's victory meant that Sally-Ann Triplett became only the third singer to win the Song for Europe contest twice, having already won the 1980 contest as part of Prima Donna. (Cliff Richard had represented the UK twice in Eurovision, but did not participate in a contest to determine the British artist). Triplett remains the only artist to have participated multiple times to win the contest at all attempts.

A Song for Europe 1982 –24 March 1982 ^[1]

Draw	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Points	Place
1	Q-Feel	"Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)"	Brian Fairweather, Martin Page	59	6th
2	Paul Curtis	"No Matter How I Try"	Paul Curtis	60	4th
3	The Touring Company	"Every Step of the Way"	David Mindel	69	2nd
4	Lovin' Feeling	"Different Worlds and Different People"	Tony Hiller, Paul Curtis	60	4th
5	Good Looks	"Every Day of My Life"	Patrick Burston, David Mindel	69	2nd
6	Rich Gypsy	"You're the Only Good Thing in My Life"	Elaine Saffer, John Carrington	53	8th
7	Bardo	"One Step Further"	Simon Jefferis	76	1st
8	The Weltons	"How Long"	Paul Curtis, Graham Sacher	58	7th

Detailed Jury Votes ^[1]

Draw	Song	Glasgow	Birmingham	Bristol	Belfast	London	Manchester	Cardiff	Total
1	"Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)"	15	8	8	7	10	5	6	59
2	"No Matter How I Try"	12	6	6	15	5	9	7	60
3	"Every Step of the Way"	6	15	15	6	12	6	9	69
4	"Different Worlds and Different People"	7	9	7	8	7	7	15	60
5	"Every Day of My Life"	8	10	10	12	9	12	8	69
6	"You're the Only Good Thing in My Life"	5	7	5	10	6	15	5	53
7	"One Step Further"	10	12	12	9	15	8	10	76
8	"How Long"	9	5	9	5	8	10	12	58
Jury Spokespersons [1]
Glasgow – Ken Bruce Birmingham –David Freeman Bristol – Andy Batten-Foster Belfast –David Olver London – Ray Moore Manchester – John Mundy Cardiff –Iwan Thomas

At Eurovision

The BBC hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 in Harrogate, presented by Jan Leeming. The British entry, "One Step Further" by Bardo, gained 76 points and was positioned seventh overall. The winner of the contest was Germany with "Ein bißchen Frieden" by Nicole. ^[2]

The contest was seen by 14.45 million viewers. ^[3]

Voting

Points awarded to the United Kingdom [4] Score Country 12 points   Austria   Luxembourg 10 points   Turkey 8 points 7 points   Ireland 6 points   Norway   Yugoslavia 5 points    Switzerland 4 points   Finland   Portugal 3 points   Cyprus 2 points   Denmark   Israel 1 point   Germany   Netherlands   Spain

Points awarded by the United Kingdom [4] Score Country 12 points    Switzerland 10 points   Austria 8 points   Germany 7 points   Ireland 6 points   Luxembourg 5 points   Sweden 4 points   Portugal 3 points   Cyprus 2 points   Belgium 1 point   Israel

References

1. Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 104–124. ISBN   978-1-84583-118-9.
2. "Final of Harrogate 1982". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
3. "Song contest comes seventh". The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom. 1 May 1982. p. 15. Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Results of the Final of Harrogate 1982". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.