It’s been 28 years since the UK scooped the top spot at the Eurovision Song Contest and with this year’s final just mere hours away, Brits are hoping that run will end.
Since Katrina & The Waves won the prize at Eurovision way back in 1997, there’s been a host of British acts who’ve tried to replicate such success, but to no avail.
Brits endured heartbreak as they nearly triumphed, landing in second place twice, and there has also been down-right embarrassment when the UK scored zero points in 2003 and 2021.
But after the semi-finals, where the UK act were praised for their ‘astonishing performance’, hopes were raised at the prospect of a victorious 2025, though the odds are still not in Remember Monday’s favour.
Who are Remember Monday?
Remember Monday are a country girl band comprising of trio of best friends Laura Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steel, all 30.
Earning a reputation for their strong vocals and perfectly blended harmonies, the girl group from Farnborough, Hampshire, have entered their song What The Hell Just Happened? for this year’s competition.
Remember Monday consists Charlotte Steele (left), Holly-Anne Hull (centre) and Lauren Byrne (right), a trio of besties from Hampshire
The band shot to fame during their appearance on The Voice in 2019 before enjoying careers in musical theatre. Pictured: Lauren Byrne
They all have active social media pages and give an insight into their social lives. Pictured: Holly-Anne Hull
However, eagle-eyed TV watchers may remember the trio from another appearance on television some six years ago.
Remember Monday first gained prominence after entering The Voice UK in 2019, where they were coached by Jennifer Hudson and made it to the show’s quarter-finals.
They are indeed no strangers to performing in-front of live audiences, having all had careers in musical theatre after The Voice before eventually quitting their day jobs in 2023 to focus on the band full-time.
Since their launch, Remember Monday have released two EPs and 12 singles with their biggest hit yet being What The Hell Just Happened?, the tune which fans will be eager to see them perform at the Eurovision final.
What has Remember Monday said about UK’s Eurovision 2025 entry?
The first girl group to represent the UK since Precious in 1999, Remember Monday appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier this week to speak about the privilege of being able to represent their country at Eurovision.
While their excitement was clear, the group admitted they were also feeling nervous about the big day.
‘Today is the first time we’ve felt a little bit anxious because it’s real now,’ they said.
Since their launch, Remember Monday have released two EPs and 12 singles with their biggest hit yet being What The Hell Just Happened?. Pictured: Charlotte Steele
They will be first girl group to represent the UK since Precious in 1999. Pictured: Lauren Byrne
The girls will perform their new song What The Hell Just Happened? during Saturday’s Eurovision final
There was also a heartfelt moment as the show’s breakfast news host Richard Arnold interviewed the trio at this year’s host city in Basel, Switzerland.
Richard surprised bandmate Charlotte with a heartwarming video to give her confidence heading into the biggest week of the band’s career.
Charlotte was the deputy head of a sixth form before all the bandmates quit their jobs to pursue music full-time around 18 months ago.
Richard took the opportunity to show her a video of her ex-students singing the band’s original Eurovision song What The Hell Just Happened? in a choir.
He said halfway through the live interview: ‘Charlotte, we’ve got a special message for you.’
The singer responded: ‘I was a deputy head of a sixth form and they are like my second family, they’re amazing!’
The host then replied: ‘Well, if you look at this, I think you’ll feel that they feel the same.’
Charlotte watched the video in absolute shock, speechless as she fought back tears and placed her hand on her chest, overwhelmed by emotion.
She said after watching the clip: ‘Oh, I love them, look at them! I hope that I inspire them by doing this.’
Her bandmate Holly-Anne reassured her, ‘You do’, before Charlotte continued: ‘It’s such a big change and I love them.’
The girls left their jobs in musical theatre around 18 months ago to focus on the band. Pictured March 2025
Remember Monday’s awards and accolades
During their audition for The Voice, Remember Monday put on such a show as they performed Kiss From a Rose that they prompted all four judges – Jennifer Hudson, Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Olly Murs – to turn their chairs.
Despite ultimately being voted out of the competition before the final stage, the band scooped the Best Group award at the British Country Music Awards that same year, thanks to the success of their debut single Drive.
The song, released on October 31, 2018, was so popular that it hit No 1 on the iTunes Country Chart.
What The Hell Just Happened?, their latest release after dropping in March, has already racked up more than three million plays on Spotify.
When is the Eurovision final?
After first getting a glimpse of Remember Monday during the semi-finals, supporters can see them hit the stage again during Saturday evening’s final.
The 69th Eurovision final is scheduled to begin at 8pm BST with Norway’s representative Kyle Alessandro scheduled to perform his song Lighter first-up.
After countries such as Luxembourg, Israel, Lithuania and Spain hit the stage, Remember Monday and the UK are eighth in line and so likely to be performing around 9pm.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final will be held in Basel, Switzerland and begin at around 8pm on Saturday night
Speaking about the UK’s chances at this year’s contest, Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC’s Head of Entertainment, said: ‘The BBC could not be prouder to have the powerhouse that is Remember Monday representing the UK at Eurovision in Basel in 2025.
‘Charlotte, Holly and Lauren are all incredibly talented singers, songwriters and performers who have such a unique sound.
‘The calibre of their live vocals is second to none and I am certain that their chemistry, drive and charisma will translate on an international stage with What The Hell Just Happened?.’
What to expect from Remember Monday’s finale performance
Remember Monday revealed on Friday what viewers can expect from their performance ahead of the big night.
Speaking to the BBC, the girl group teased a performance full of ‘drama and theatrics’ as they draw on their musical theatre backgrounds.
When asked what to expect, Lauren, 30, simply said: ‘Drama and theatrics.’
Holly-Anne, 30, chimed in: ‘Pink and girly.’
Meanwhile, Charlotte, 30, teased further: We obviously want it to be a surprise on the night.
Remember Monday revealed on Friday what viewers can expect from their performance ahead of the big night
‘But what we can say is that we are leaning into our musical theatre backgrounds, that is for sure, and we just hope that audiences love the staging and design as much as we do.
Holly added: ‘Oh, and our outfits are pretty cute too…’
The trio, known for their viral social media harmonies, will present their most ambitious staging yet – overseen by creative director Ace Bowerman, who has worked with stars like Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Blackpink.
It marks the biggest performance of the band’s career to date.
What are the odds saying?
The country pop band left fans impressed with their performance during the semi-finals, and theories began flying that they might take home the trophy – which would be the UK’s first win since 1997.
Despite their high-energy routine, it appears the odds are not in their favour as they are more likely to finish in last place than first, according to Ladbrokes.
In a crushing blow to their chances of success, they have been ranked at just 66/1 to take home the trophy by bookies, with nine other countries soaring ahead of them.
Remember Monday have been dealt an unfortunate blow just hours ahead of Saturday night’s grand final as the odds were not in their favour
Their odds of coming in last place are much closer at just 3/1, while the chance of them scoring ‘nul points’ has been ranked at 12/1.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: ‘Remember Monday need nothing short of a miracle to cause an upset in Switzerland tonight, if the latest odds are anything to go by.’
The UK last finished triumphant in the contest 27 years ago with the victory of Katrina and the Waves in 1997, with their track Love Shine A Light.
Remember Monday have fallen far behind Sweden and Austria, who are both the bookies’ leading favourites to win the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden have been the favourite since late February and moved to odds-on for a record eighth Eurovision triumph last month with dance-pop trio KAJ.
Their entry single, Bara Bada Bastu is the group’s first chart-topper, and the first song sung in Swedish entered by Sweden since 1998.
However, a groundswell of support for Pop-Opera soprano Johannes ‘JJ’ Pietsch has seen Austria come in from 3/1, and Sweden drift to 10/11.
Despite Austria’s finishing position of 24th last year, JJ seems to have captured the hearts of fans, and the country has now been bestowed 11/4 odds.
Despite their high-energy routine, it appears the odds are not in their favour as they are more likely to finish in last place than first, according to Ladbrokes
France is coming up third place in the betting, with pop-ballad soloist, Louane, going from 10/1 to 9/1.
The Netherlands follow closely behind, with 12/1 odds on their 21-year-old pop star representative Claude.
Israel’s odds are at 25/1 amid controversy surrounding their involvement in the contest this year. Over 70 former Eurovision contestants have signed a letter demanding Israel’s expulsion from the event.
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place in St. Jakobshalle, Basel, on Saturday 17 May.
