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United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

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The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "Love Enough for Two", written by Stephanie de Sykes and Stuart Slater, and performed by the group Prima Donna. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.

Participating broadcasterBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
SelectionprocessA Song for Europe 1980
Selectiondate26 March 1980
Quick facts United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, Participating broadcaster ...
United Kingdom in the
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Participating broadcasterBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country United Kingdom
Selection processA Song for Europe 1980
Selection date26 March 1980
Competing entry
Song"Love Enough for Two"
ArtistPrima Donna
Songwriters
Placement
Final result3rd, 106 points
Participation chronology
◄1979 • 1980 • 1981►
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Before Eurovision

A Song for Europe 1980

A Song for Europe 1980 was held on 26 March 1980 at the BBC Television Theatre in London and was hosted by Terry Wogan. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of John Coleman as conductor accompanied all the songs, but all the music was pre-recorded. 12 songs were chosen by the Music Publisher's Association.

Following his second place in the 1979 contest, songwriter Richard Gillinson was asked to submit a song to replace the disqualified entry "Tell Me" by the New Seekers, which was eliminated two weeks before the final after the group began promoting the track before the contest.[1] Gillinson's song "Surrender" was performed by the same artist who presented his 1979 song, Kim Clark. The lead vocal of "Tell Me" was taken by New Seeker Nicola Kerr, who had been one of the 'Plus Two' who had finished 3rd for Ireland in 1977.

The twelve songs were voted on by 14 regional juries, who awarded 1-12 points to each song. Each of the 11 jurors awarded 1-5 points to each song, the total scores being added up, with the song earning the most points being awarded 12 points, the second placed song earned 11, the third 10 and so on, down to 1 point for the song with the fewest votes.

The jury spokesperson could be seen on screen awarding the votes, sometimes with the jury members in vision. These were broadcast from the BBC's 14 regional news studios.

Owing to a tie break and with the live show quickly running out of time, a clearly flustered Terry Wogan, unsure of what to do in this unprecedented circumstance, returned to the 14 juries who were hastily asked to pick their favourite between songs two and five.

More information R/O, Artist ...
A Song for Europe 1980 – 26 March 1980[1]
R/O Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
1 Scramble"Don't Throw Your Love Away"Peter Morris976
2 Maggie Moone"Happy Everything"1312
3 Plain Sailing"Easy"
  • Colin Stewart
  • Alan Stewart
  • Paul Stewart
  • Robert Freeman
1114
4 Sonja Jones"Here We'll Stay"
5611
5 Prima Donna"Love Enough for Two"
1311
6 Jacqui Scott"Symphony for You"
678
7 Duke and the Aces"Love Is Alive"Paul Curtis947
8 Roy Winston"Everything's All Right"Roy Winston5810
9 Midnite"Love Comes, Love Grows"
  • Gary Sulsh
  • Stuart Leathwood
629
10 The Main Event"Gonna Do My Best"Terry Bradford4512
11 Pussyfoot"I Want to Be Me"
  • Mick Flinn
  • Mark Stevens
1114
12 Kim Clark"Surrender"Richard Gillinson1293
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More information Artist, Song ...
Tie-Break
Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
Maggie Moone"Happy Everything" 62
Prima Donna"Love Enough for Two"
81
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More information R/O, Song ...
Regional jury votes[1]
R/O Song
Aberdeen
Newcastle
Plymouth
Leeds
Southampton
Bangor
London
Cardiff
Birmingham
Glasgow
Belfast
Bristol
Norwich
Manchester
Total
1 "Don't Throw Your Love Away" 1075836591010957397
2 "Happy Everything" 1188118101012126101285131
3 "Easy" 651210129875569611111
4 "Here We'll Stay" 12124241032885456
5 "Love Enough for Two" 81291291212118876116131
6 "Symphony for You" 5101012711844121167
7 "Love Is Alive" 7111176562973310794
8 "Everything's All Right" 26631424235102858
9 "Love Comes, Love Grows" 4324781379444262
10 "Gonna Do My Best" 3436533111213945
11 "I Want to Be Me" 91751117661112111212111
12 "Surrender" 129491011951112117910129
Tie-Break[1]
"Happy Everything" XXXXXX6
"Love Enough for Two" XXXXXXXX8
Regional jury spokespersons[1]
  • Aberdeen – Gerry Davis
  • Newcastle – Mike Neville
  • Plymouth – Donald Heighway
  • Leeds – Brian Baines
  • Southampton – Peter Macann
  • Bangor – Alun Evans
  • London – Colin Berry
  • Cardiff – Iwan Thomas
  • Birmingham – David Stevens
  • Glasgow – Douglas Brock
  • Belfast – Mike Baguley
  • Bristol – Derek Jones
  • Norwich – Gill Hewitt
  • Manchester – John Mundy
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At Eurovision

At the Eurovision itself, "Love Enough for Two" scored 106 points and was positioned third overall. The event took place in the Hague in the Netherlands and was won by Ireland's "What's Another Year?" by Johnny Logan.[2]

Terry Wogan provided the BBC television commentary, whilst Steve Jones provided the BBC Radio 2 commentary. Regular Eurovision radio commentator Ray Moore served as spokesperson for the UK jury. This was the start for Wogan's continuous television commentary which he would do every year until 2008.[citation needed]

Voting

More information Score, Country ...
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