Cheryl Baker hasn't ruled out the possibility of the UK winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest, but she expects it'll be tough to beat one of the other entries.
The singer, 69, knows what it's like to win the contest after having experienced that victory as part of Bucks Fizz in 1981 following their iconic performance of Making Your Mind Up.
She made a brief appearance with bandmates Mike Nolan and Jay Aston during the first semi-final of this year's contest on Tuesday (May 9), which was held in Liverpool.
The Mirror caught up with Cheryl prior to the event and she shared her thoughts on this year's acts, including Mae Muller, 25, who's representing the UK with I Wrote A Song.
Cheryl, who spoke to us in partnership with ICE 36, told us: "I've listened to them all and I think Mae's song is up there. There are some great songs in it this year, I'm really impressed. I think they're fantastic songs."
She gave some notable examples like Watergun (performed by Remo Forrer for Switzerland) and Tattoo (performed by Loreen for Sweden) - both of which have made it through the semi-final stage since our interview with Cheryl.
The presenter added that Mae is "up against some stiff opposition" especially from Loreen, 39 - who previously won Eurovision back in 2012 with her beloved song Euphoria.
"[That] was everyone's favourite and for her to be coming back with another really strong song, and she's a great performer, so I think she's possibly the favourite," she said.
Cheryl described the song - which topped the charts in several countries at the time - as "so different" and said it remains one of her favourites from the contest's history.
She said: "I think [Loreen is] the one to beat this year [...] She's got a great song [again]. She still looks amazing and people regard her and Euphoria as Eurovision platinum."
Cheryl - who still performs with Mike and Jay, though now as The Fizz - said that whilst she believes the UK could win, she thinks our entry may place elsewhere in the top five.
Discussing a possible win for the UK, Cheryl said the rest of Europe "loves us again now" after having fallen out of favour with us "for one reason or another" in recent decades.
"[I] think that Mae is gonna do really well. I think she'll do great. I wouldn't like to predict that she will win because the opposition is so intense," she commented, however.
She said: "[The UK hosting] is in our favour. [Mae's] a good performer. She's written a good song. I think she's gonna be up there, maybe top five. I'd love to see her top five."
Sharing her advice for Mae, she said: "Have a flipping great time darling. You're gonna be watched by hundreds of millions of people. It'll be the biggest musical thing you've ever done in your life. Just enjoy the moment."
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