Eurovision polling: fears of “nul points” for the UK on the rise as public selects which songs political leaders would sing in Switzerland

New Ipsos in the UK polling, together with BBC Radio 5 Live, reveals that Britons are gloomy about the UK’s prospects, with a growing belief that a dismal "nul points" outcome is increasingly likely.

Key findings

• Fears of “nul points” for the UK rise: Just over two in five (43%) think that the UK will receive no points in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, a 19 ppt jump from last year. Seven in ten (71%) of those surveyed believe a UK victory is unlikely. Three in ten (31%) say they are likely to tune in to the Final on Saturday.

• Hopes pinned on Ukraine and Ireland: When asked which countries would be most likely to award the UK the coveted twelve points, respondents pointed to Ukraine and Ireland. Conversely, the public perceives France and Germany as the least likely to grant the UK top marks.
• Political figures' Eurovision anthems: For the second year in a row, Ipsos also asked the public to pick which songs they think that various political leaders would sing on stage in Switzerland.  
  • Keir Starmer: While last year's selections for Starmer reflected themes of hope and victory (“We are the Champions” by Queen was a popular choice), this year's choices emphasised struggle and disappointment. Popular choices for this year’s contest included “Things Can Only Get Better” by D:Ream, and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths. 
  • Nigel Farage: Conversely, songs chosen for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage leaned heavily on patriotism and winning, including “Rule Britannia” and “God Save the King” (Farage was not polled last year).   
  • Ed Davey: Liberal Democrat Ed Davey's song choices highlighted a blend of happiness and levity, potentially influenced by his public stunts. Popular choices included “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” by Monty Python, and “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. 
  • Kemi Badenoch: Finally, songs associated with Kemi Badenoch presented a mixed bag, with some reflecting resilience and determination (“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor), while others hinted at struggles to gain recognition or negativity (“Loser” by Beck, “Who Are You” by The Who).

• Switzerland's image: The poll also delved into public perceptions of Switzerland, this year's host nation. Common associations included mountains, cheese, watches, money, skiing, chocolate, and neutrality.

Commenting on the findings, Holly Day, Research Manager at Ipsos said:

Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Switzerland this weekend, our polling suggests increased pessimism with the UK’s chances of success, with more than two in five Britons believing we will receive ‘nul points’. The findings suggest that we are pinning our hopes on Ireland and Ukraine in search of the coveted 12 points, while expecting low returns from France and Germany. UK entrants Remember Monday will be hoping we don’t end the weekend wondering “What the hell just happened” for another year.

Technical note: 

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,095 adults aged 16-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between the 2nd and 5th of May 2025.   
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.