UK Eurovision legend backs Bambie Thug to win the Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision legend Cheryl Baker has backed Bambie Thug to win the Eurovision song contest.

The Bucks Fizz star, who won the song contest back in 1981, told Heart Bingo that Bambie can go all the way to glory in this weekend’s final with their song, Doomsday Blue.

She said: “I love Ireland’s entry. They have a very strong entry from Bambie Thug this year, which I think will finish in the top three in the final and I even think can win it! They definitely have a better chance than Olly Alexander and the UK.

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“The song is so weird, it’s so dark but then transforms into what I would describe as a typical Irish song – a little bit floaty and a more stereotypical Irish tune, one much like the Ireland of old and the sort of thing they have entered into the contest before.

“But then this one is also really quite dark! Almost demonic and could easily be the wildcard of this year’s competition. I also think that Ireland have added motivation to get the crown back from Sweden as they’ve both won Eurovision seven times now...”

While Baker feels Ireland can claim gold at this weekend’s final, she warned that Croatia could be the nation to beat on Saturday night.

“There’s lots of good songs this year,” she said. “Switzerland was up there, it was tipped to win, but I’m not such a fan of it. I do think Croatia has a very good chance of winning as their song is a bit like Ukraine’s a couple of years ago when they won – it breaks into a chant that everyone can join in with. The whole auditorium in Sweden will be singing along on Saturday. Croatia will be up there and certainly in the top three.

“Ireland will be in the top three and can win it, and then Ukraine have a strong song as well, so they could be up there too.”

Baker and Bucks Fizz won Eurovision in Dublin back in 1981 for the UK – and she says she had a blast performing in Ireland’s capital city.

“Being in Dublin and performing there was brilliant, what a great city to have the Eurovision in,” she said. “We just had the greatest time. It was fantastic. Mike Nolan is from Dublin so we met all of his family too, we had a great time!

“When we won, and we weren’t expecting to win, they quickly had to arrange a party for us back at our hotel as they didn’t think we’d win! The whole world thought it would be Germany.”

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