Despite the UK's poor results overall in recent times at the Eurovision final it still has the record of the most Top 10 placings achieved in the contest with 41. Closest to that is 39 from Sweden, 36 from France, 34 from Germany and 31 from Italy and Ireland. Placings relate to the period 1957 to 2018. The full results for the first Eurovision final in 1956 have not been made public so cannot be included.
The UK's Top 10 placings since its first entry in 1957 have been as follows:
1st - 5 times
2nd - 15 times
3rd - 3 times
4th - 5 times
5th - once
6th - 7 times
7th - 6 times
8th - not yet achieved
9th - 1 time
10th - 3 times.
Based on an inverse points system (currently 26 points for a #1 placing down to 1 point for a #26 placing in the contest) from 1957 to 2018 the UK's overall ranking amongst all countries who have reached the Eurovision final is 10th (based on 1052 inverse points divided by 61 entries).
Countries with the most entries in the Eurovision final from 1957 to 2018 were as follows:
61 - UK
60 - France, Germany
58 - Spain
57 - Sweden
54 - Norway
50 - Belgium.
The first four listed countries are from the "big five" which have a guaranteed place in the Eurovision final these days.
The UK's placings outside the Top 10 have been as follows:
11th - twice
12th - once
13th - once
15th - twice
16th - twice
17th - once
19th - twice
22nd - twice
23rd - once
24th - three times
25th - twice
26th - once.
This data has not been audited or confirmed but hopefully is correct.
Quite a songwriting combination: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. 9 Eurovision entries ago in 2009 this was the last UK Eurovision entry to enjoy a top 10 placing in the contest coming 5th, or the 2nd of the last 16 entries to reach enjoy a top 10 placing in the contest (the previous top 5 placing to 2009 was by Jessica Garlick's COME BACK which came 3rd equal in 2002). How will the UK fare in Lisbon tonight at the 63rd edition of the contest since 1956? We wait with bated breath ...