Katrina Leskanich brands Eurovision hopeful Lucie Jones an ‘X Factor reject’ and rants UK should ‘try harder’ ahead of tonight’s competition
FORMER Eurovision winner Katrina Leskanich blasted Lucie Jones and labelled her an ‘X Factor reject’ in a rant ahead of tonight’s competition.
Lucie, who competed on the ITV talent show in 2009, will sing Never Give Up On You in the International Exhibition Centre in Ukraine’s capital Kiev.
However Katrina, who won the singing contest in 1997 and is acting as the UK’s Eurovision spokesperson this year, doesn’t think the UK stands a chance of winning and appeared to blame the BBC.
She told the : “A bunch of X Factor rejects?That just says it all. How horrible is that?
“Isn’t it just a colossal waste of money not to take it a bit more seriously, and try a little harder?”
Katrina, 57, continued her rant by laying into the selection process, adding: “We kept choosing such terrible representatives that you just knew from the get-go they weren’t going to win.”
After her comments were made public however, a spokesperson made a U-turn on her behalf.
They said: “She ardently supports the work that the BBC does for Eurovision and believes that Lucie Jones is an outstanding Eurovision entry for the UK this year.”
Last night Graham Norton urged the pubic to get behind 25-year-old Lucie.
He said: “It’s a strong song and Lucie has an amazing voice.
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
“It’s such an honour to represent the UK, so the whole country needs to get behind her.”
Lucie has promised simple, powerful staging for her song tonight, but there will be the usual array of bizarre routines. Not least this year’s favourite to win, Italy’s Francesco Gabbani, who is joined on stage by a man in a gorilla outfit.
Yes, Italy is one of the favourites right now, but who knows whether a gorilla on stage will go down well in Ukraine!
“There are so many moments during Eurovision that defy logic – that defy anything – and the bonkers ideas that countries thought were good are so entertaining. I love it when you get to say: ‘There is no explaining this one.’”
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220