Brotherhood of Man’s Lee Sheridan on Eurovision victory and performing at the Gladstone Theatre on July 2

Jun 22 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

FOR those of us reared on a Eurovision diet of nul points and humiliation for the UK, it’s hard to imagine our glory days in the world’s favourite song contest.

But in the 1970s and early 80s Brotherhood of Man and Bucks Fizz led us to two victories in the space of five years.

Brotherhood of Man’s 1976 winning song, Save Your Kisses For Me, sold over five million copies and was number one in 33 different countries.

The original line-up of Nicky Stevens, Sandra Stevens, Martin Lee and Lee Sheriden are still touring and will perform at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight next week – joined by the Bobby G line-up of 1981 winners Bucks Fizz.

Thirty-five years after their Eurovision victory, Brotherhood of Man could be forgiven for feeling a little jaded about it all.

Not so, according to the group’s Lee Sheriden.

“It’s always a pleasure to speak to anyone who wants to speak to us about it, it really is,” he enthuses.

“We always say Eurovision is like Christmas – it comes every year and it’s great because everyone remembers us!

“I thought it was excellent this year. Blue did a very good job and I was disappointed for them that they didn’t do better in the voting.”

Day and Night tells Lee that we flew to Norway last year to cheer on UK entrant Josh Dubovie – who ended up in last place with just ten points.

“That was a shame,” he agrees.“We all had our hopes up for Blue this year but I think we just have to keep on trying.

“I don’t think there’s a magic formula.

“We put a big name band in and it didn’t quite come off but in another year it might.”

Brotherhood of Man hold the world record for winning Eurovision by the biggest margin – a whopping 80.4%.

Their impeccable song contest credentials mean the band are still very much in demand.

As well as touring with Buck’s Fizz and their own The Seventies Show, they also appear in pop nostalgia concerts across Europe.

Lee said: “Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia. People get to a certain age and remember and their children have grown up and discovered the music of the 70s and 80s for themselves.

“Eurovision is still huge in other countries. In Germany and Holland they call us oldies but it’s in an affectionate way!

“It’s always amazed me that all these years after we won there’s still a demand for us.

“We’ve had a few little breaks but really we’ve never stopped.”

Lee says the band could never be tempted to compete at Eurovision again (“We like to stay winners!”) but their concert with Bucks Fizz serves up a slice of contest fun.

He revealed: “We do all sorts in the show but at the end there’s a mock Eurovision.

“We go off stage, have the votes from the audience and then we come on as winners in our Eurovision outfits.

“But they’re not the ones from 1976 – we can’t get those on any more!”

Brotherhood of Man and Bucks Fizz will be in concert at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight together on Saturday, July 2 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £16/17 from 643 8757 or www.gladstonetheatre.org.uk

DAY and Night has teamed up with the Gladstone Theatre to give away two pairs of tickets to the concert.

Answer the following question: Name the song Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest with in 1981: a) Land of Make Believe, b) Piece of the Action or c) Making Your Mind Up?

Send your answer, including your name, address and a daytime contact number, to: Brotherhood of Man Competition, Wirral News, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB.

The closing date is Wednesday, June 29.