She stunned viewers when she stormed to victory in 1997.
And Katrina Leskanich, Britain’s last Eurovision Song Contest winner, proved she’s barely a day older when she performed in Lorraine ahead of the final in Liverpool.
The singer, 63, who won the competition with Katrina and the Waves and their song Love Shine A Light, admitted that her finale was more of a “barn dance” compared to this year’s huge productions.
Her victory marks the last time the United Kingdom has won the Eurovision Song Contest, with the home country on poor form this century.
The 2023 Eurovision final will be hosted in the UK on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine, as they are unable due to their ongoing conflict with Russia.
Blast from the past! Britain’s last Eurovision Song Contest winner, Katrina Leskanich (right in 1997), showed she’s barely a day older, as she appeared in Lorraine (left) on Friday ahead of the final in Liverpool
Backlash! The Katrina And The Waves star was joined by A1’s Ben Adams, who took part in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest for Norway
Katrina told Lorraine, “Compared to now, it was a peasant dance. We had a corner lamp. I was wearing the clothes I had been wearing all week! The stylist came in and tried to put me in a Union Jack dress and I said “I don’t think so.”
Looking back at the moment she realized she had won, Katrina added, “The reason it was nerve-wracking was because everyone was saying, ‘There’s no way you can win because of political voting.'”
“I didn’t let anything get in the way of victory or a few glasses of champagne. We won and I felt a hand on my shoulder say “come on honey you have to sing it again” and I was like “oh”.
Despite the win, Katrina also noted the tremendous camaraderie between the contestants.
She said, “In ’97, when I did it, it was like a little community. We knew all the other people. We were piled up in the green room and shared alcohol and food. I was throwing hamburger sliders at people.”
Katrina went on to say that thanks to Sam Ryder, who finished second last year, the UK is ‘back on track’ in the contest.
Joining Katrina on the show was former Eurovision contestant Ben Adams, who was revealed as the man behind the masked Subwoolfer duo, who represented Norway in the 2022 contest.
The former A1 star’s identity was originally unknown, but Sam Ryder later blew Ben’s cover by revealing he was the mysterious wolf who performed in the finale.
Reflection: The singer admitted that her finale was more of a barn dance compared to this year’s huge productions
Overcomers! Together with her group Katrina And The Waves, Katrina won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with her song Love Shine A Light
How long? Her victory marks the last time the United Kingdom has won the Eurovision Song Contest, with the home country in poor form this century
Determined: “I didn’t let anything get in the way of victory or a few glasses of champagne,” she said as she discussed her win
Ben told Lorraine, “They have songwriting camps and we laughed all day. Then NRK said we would like you to do it. They said what if you wore a mask?
“In the end we had to do it ourselves and it’s been a ridiculous time ever since. Sam Ryder knocked us out in 2022 – he found out it was us!’
Eurovision fans are now hoping that Mae Muller will do better and win the contest for the UK this year.
In Saturday’s final, she takes the stage with her track I Wrote A Song.
It comes after Mae’s appearance in the upcoming Eurovision 2023 grand final appeared to be in jeopardy.
Mae was forced to go on vocal rest after this week’s dress rehearsals by her vocal coach.
During an update to her fans on Twitter on Wednesday, Mae shared a photo of herself with a “vocal rest” sign around her neck.
Disappointed at the news, she explained, “As someone who can’t stfu if his life depends on it, things aren’t going well x.”
“My vocal coach literally had to make me carry a sign to make me shut up, I’m so embarrassed omg.”
The full list of countries that will put on a spectacle in the 2h10 minute spectacle starts as follows: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Serbia, France, Cyprus, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Estonia and Finland.
Achievements: Eurovision fans are now hoping Mae Muller will do better and win the contest for the UK this year
Also on stage: Moldova, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Israel, Croatia, Norway, Germany and Lithuania.
The Eurovision Song Contest final will be broadcast live on 13 May at 8pm UK time on BBC One, BBC IPlayer and the official YouTube channel.
There will also be live commentary on BBC Radio 2, hosted by Rylan Clark and Scott Mills.
Cinema buffs can also catch a glimpse of the spectacular show at Vue Cinemas in the UK.