EUROVISION

Cardiff-born Lucie Jones will fly the flag for the UK in tonight’s Eurovision Song Contest. KEEPING UP WITH LUCIE JONES But can she top the scoreboard after years of disappointment? Mike Ward meets her efore we get down to talking some credibility, that I feel I’m the best with our entry tonight in Kiev, the haunting And how does she expect this Eurovision about tonight’s Eurovision THE legitimate performer who has the Never Give Up On You, co-written by Denmark’s moment of hers to play out? Not wishing to sound Song Contest, where she’ll EUROVISION career anyway, not just the 2013 Eurovision winner Emmelie de Forest. a downbeat note, but the UK doesn’t have the Bbe singing the UK entry, SONG CONTEST, Eurovision girl.” “I just completely fell in love with it when I first greatest Eurovision track record in recent years. I have to ask Lucie Jones the TONIGHT, 8PM, Those other things have heard it,” says Lucie. “I connected with it straight Some might even suggest we’re a little unpopular inevitable question: does she have BBC1 included modelling work and away. It’s quite haunting, especially with its new these days with our European brethren. And Lucie a Jedward dartboard on her wall? a good many stage musicals, arrangement. It’s almost Gothic in a way. I really may have it even tougher than most, being our first You couldn’t blame her if she did, including most recently the touring like that.” representative since the Brexit vote. given that the hyperactive irritants production of Rent. It’s a working life We’ve yet to see Lucie’s choice of outfit for Is she concerned she’s taken on a poisoned scuppered her X Factor dream back in 2009, with obvious parallels to the pop world, tonight’s performance, but one thing she’s pleased chalice? “I don’t even think about it,” she insists, knocking her out in a controversial sing-off. but Lucie points out there are also a good about is not having to hide her tattoos. She’s got “because honestly every year is different. My song “There was never a Jedward dartboard!” many differences. quite a few these days (“If I had my way I’d be – and I can say this without sounding arrogant, Lucie assures me with a chuckle. “Bless them!” “I’m now a trained singer and I’ve learnt covered in them, I absolutely love them…”) but because I didn’t write it – is really good, it’s Graham Norton Indeed, she appears to harbour no ill will how to sing in different situations,” she for her stage roles she nearly always has to legitimately a really cool song. And it’s will comment on tonight’s Eurovison final in Kiev whatsoever to the opinion-dividing Grimes explains, “to manipulate my voice to make it conceal them. getting a lot of radio play, people are twins. “You know what, you will never meet sound one way or the other. So yeah, there are “There’s not much call for lots of “I COMPLETELY liking it all over the world and I’m And whatever the outcome, she plans to enjoy two harder working people than John and a lot of similarities. But the life of a musical tattoos if you’re playing, say, a FELL IN LOVE WITH getting amazing feedback.” every minute. “It’s such an amazing thing to be a Edward,” she insists. “I mean that, hand on theatre performer can be hard.” sophisticated lady from the 1920s, Lucie will have moral support in part of,” she says. “And everyone’s so supportive. heart. They’ve done Eurovision twice The money isn’t exactly life changing, she so I have to cover them up with THE SONG WHEN the Ukrainian capital tonight from “We’ve got a lot of depressing stuff going on in themselves, remember. They’re amazingly points out, and the hours mean you start your make-up. For my Eurovision I FIRST HEARD IT” her parents, her brother and her this world right now, so it’s great to be part of hard workers.” working day in the evening rush hour and moment, it’ll be nice just to let fiancé Ethan, who she’s marrying something that’s so joyous and just about music.” And amazingly hard on the ears, one might rarely hit the sack before 1am. “You have to them be!” LUCIE JONES in August. Mike Ward add. But let’s not dwell on that. Lucie certainly work out regularly, too,” she adds, “because if isn’t. So is this why, eight years on, she’s agreed you get fat you just won’t get more jobs. And to put herself through the torture of another you don’t have personal trainers, nutritional singing competition? coaches and all the stuff you’d have if you were “Torture, that’s a good word!” she says with in the music industry. You’re kind of doing that a smile. “But honestly, enough time has passed yourself. Then you’re coming home and that I don’t see The X Factor as a running your normal life, because you’ve disappointment now at all. usually got a partner who has a real job. “Obviously I’m a lot older, so I completely “You’re doing this six days a week, two days understand that it’s a TV show, an of which include matinees as well. So it needs entertainment show. And I still had a really stamina and discipline.” good time on it. Eurovision, then, must feel like a welcome “I did say I’d never do another competition break from all that? “Well, I’m very, very lucky because it just becomes your life and takes to be able to dip my toe into both worlds,” she Lucie will sing Never Give Up On You, co-written by over everything, but I’ve done so many other admits. “Hopefully that’ll continue.” Denmark’s 2013 Eurovision winner Emmelie de Forest things now, and I’ve worked very hard to gain For now, of course, it’s all about doing her

From left: Sandie Shaw (Puppet On A String, 1967); Lulu (Boom Bang-a-Bang, 1969); Brotherhood Of Man (Save Your Kisses For Me, 1976); Bucks Fizz (Making Your Mind Up, 1981); Katrina And The Waves (Love Shine A Light, 1997) BRITISH EUROVISION WINNERS REX FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHS: BBC; GETTY IMAGES; PA;

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