Sophie Ellis-Bexter says she once turned down a chance to judge at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The singer-songwriter was lined up for the panel in 2019, but said that being a small child and unable to watch the show in silence, she was prevented from participating.
Britain will be represented this year in Turin, Italy by TikTok star Sam Ryder, 32, with his evocative pop song Space Man.
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Singer-songwriter says Britons treat Eurovision as an ‘almost ironic’ but enjoyable annual event (Matt Krasick/PA)
Speaking to the Radio Times, Ellis-Bexter said that following the success of her hit song Murder on the Dancefloor, which was the most played track in Europe in 2002, she “in talks” about becoming a competition judge. .
“I had a very young child that I was still feeding, and they wouldn’t let me bring it along,” she said.
“I’m pretty sure the kid must have been fair, but, you know, I think part of what I love about Eurovision is that it has a lot of rules… it’s kooky.
“We weren’t allowed to speak while we were watching this, and I thought, ‘I can’t watch Eurovision in silence’.”
Ellis-Bextor, 43, is scheduled to host a special Eurovision Kitchen Disco warm-up party on Radio 2 this year.
She said Eurovision has been a part of her family life since she was “younger” and used to watch shows with her parents as a child.
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“My parents always used to watch Eurovision and I remember watching it during the eighties when I was in the single digits and being quite fascinated by what I saw,” she said.
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This year the UK will be represented by 32-year-old TikTok star Sam Ryder with his uplifting pop song Space Man (Edward Cook/BBCrellophone Musi/PA).
He added that the “political undertaking” for Eurovision, and Britain’s famous lack of success, was “part of the fun”.
“We should probably prepare ourselves for another ‘zero point’ score,” she said.
“There has always been political undertones (for voting), which is, again, part of the fun.
“We enjoy it quite a bit, I think.
“It’s part of the reason Britain treats it almost ironically, and I don’t think it will ever be lost, but some good songs can have a life outside Eurovision and be regarded as legitimate hits. “
The full interview with Ellis-Bexter can be found in this week’s Radio Times.
– The Eurovision Finals will air on BBC One, BBC Radio 2 and BBC iPlayer on Saturday at 8 pm.