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Eurovision Most Wins: Who’s taking the titles? | William Hill

3 years ago
| BY News Team

Check out the latest Eurovision betting odds at William Hill

It’s that time of year once again with spring on the horizon and the Eurovision Song Contest slowly approaching.

The 2021 edition of everyone’s favourite singing competition takes place this year in Rotterdam. The semi-finals are on 18th and 20th May, with the grand final taking place on 22nd May.

Ahead of this year’s event, we’ve taken a look at all you need to know about the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winners in history.

Which country has the most Eurovision wins of all time?

Ireland – 7 wins (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)

When it comes to the most successful country in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision most wins, look no further than Ireland, who have provided some great Eurovision songs. Since making their debut in the competition in 1965, they have featured 53 times, going on to win a mighty seven titles from 1970 to 1996. The 1990s was truly their decade with four wins in five years, including their last triumph – Eimear Quinn’s The Voice in 1996. 25 years later, we’re still due another Irish win.

Sweden – 6 (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015)

Next in line is Sweden, who have one less victory than Ireland with six. Unlike Ireland, however, they have had some recent success with Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw’s (2015) respective triumphs. But is there a more famous Eurovision song than ABBA’s Waterloo from the 1974 contest? ABBA guided Sweden to their first win that year and the track has gone one to become one of the best-selling singles of all time.

France – 5 (1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977)

With the first Eurovision contest taking place in 1956, France were one of the original heavyweights of the competition, winning three of the first seven titles thanks to André Claveau, Jacqueline Boyer and Isabelle Aubret. They have struggled to replicate that early success in the 21st century with their last title coming back in 1977. France are one of the contenders this year, however, with Eurovision odds of 10/1.

Luxembourg – 5 (1961, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1983)

Luxembourg may be a small country but that’s not stopped them from having a major impact on the Eurovision Song Contest, also winning five titles, including two in a row in 1972 and 1973. Their last triumph came in 1983, though they have not participated in the event since 1993.

UK – 5 (1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997)

Also sitting joint third in this list on five titles is the UK, who have had successful Eurovision hits from Sandie Shaw’s Puppet on a String (1967), Lulu’s Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969), Brotherhood of Man’s Save Your Kisses for Me (1976), Bucks Fizz’s Making Your Mind Up (1981) and Katrina and the Waves’ Love, Shine a Light (1997). Is it about time the UK made it victory number six?

Netherlands – 5 (1957, 1959, 1969, 1975, 2019)

Rounding off the top performing nations, and boasting five wins to their name, is this year’s hosts Netherlands. Of all the nations mentioned, it’s Netherlands who have had the most recent victory through Duncan Laurence in 2019.

NationWinsYears
 Ireland71970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996
 Sweden61974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015
 France51958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977
 Luxembourg 51961, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1983
 UK51967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997
 Netherlands51957, 1959, 1969, 1975, 2019
 Israel41978, 1979, 1998, 2018
 Norway31985, 1995, 2009
 Denmark31963, 2000, 2013
 Spain21968, 1969
  Switzerland21956, 1988
 Italy21964, 1990
 Germany21982, 2010
 Austria21966, 2014
 Ukraine22004, 2016
 Monaco 11971
 Belgium11986
 Yugoslavia 11989
 Estonia12001
 Latvia12002
 Turkey 12003
 Greece12005
 Finland12006
 Serbia12007
 Russia12008
 Azerbaijan12011
 Portugal12017

Which Eurovision act has the highest score ever?

Amar pelos dois – Salvador Sobral (758 points, 2017)

Winning the Eurovision Song Contest is one thing but winning it in style is another. Step forward Portugal’s Salvador Sobral who made history with his performance of Amar pelos dois in 2017. Not only did he win the competition for Portugal for the first time in its history, but he did so with a record 758 Eurovision points – setting the record for the highest number of points in the history of the competition – some 224 points more than the previous best from Ukraine’s Jamala in 2016 when singing song 1944.

The best UK performances

Puppet on a String – Sandie Shaw (1967)

Where else to start than with the UK’s first ever Eurovision victory in 1967 and Sandie Shaw’s rendition of Puppet on a String. Heading into the 1967 competition, the UK had finished second five times previously, but Sandie Shaw was the first to strike gold. Sandie notoriously hated this song but as well as taking her to the Eurovision summit, it was also number one in the UK charts.

Save Your Kisses for Me – Brotherhood of Man (1976)

1976 was the first time since the 1960s that the UK’s national final was opened to multiple artists rather than a solo act – and Brotherhood of Man did not disappoint, with their performance of Save Your Kisses for Me securing them victory in the Netherlands. The song remains one of the biggest-selling Eurovision winners ever, and is the biggest such seller in the UK.

Love Shine a Light – Katrina and the Waves (1997)

By the time Katrina and the Waves took to the stage in 1997 in Dublin, the UK, who had four Eurovision titles to its name, had gone 16 years without tasting another victory. That all changed, however, as Katrina and the Waves wowed onlookers with Love Shine a Light to take top spot, 70 points ahead of their nearest rival. It still remains the UK’s last Eurovision triumph.

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