eusong1-8, Exercise 3: 2009 and 2022

Model answer:

2009: Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote "It's My Time", sung by Jade Ewen, and appeared on stage at the piano. It finished fifth, a good result after a poor run. It showed that a high-profile name and serious effort could change attention.

2022: Sam Ryder's "Space Man" won the jury vote and finished second overall behind Ukraine, whose public vote was very large. It was the best British result for many years.

What they tell us about the "political" theory: if countries simply voted against Britain, a strong entry should not have won a jury vote. Both results fit a quality-and-effort explanation better, though two results are not proof.

Check the placings and points in the official results.