That year's A Song For Europe was held on 29 March 1991 and was hosted by Terry Wogan. Following the somewhat negative comments by one member of the 'expert' panel in 1990, the panel idea was dropped in 1991. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Ronnie Hazlehurst as conductor accompanied all the songs, the musicians appearing on camera for the first time since 1978. The eight songs in contention to represent the UK were presented during Terry Wogan's Wogan chat show on BBC1. Two songs were presented during each of four broadcasts between 20 and 27 March. A separate results show was broadcast on BBC1 the same evening. BBC Radio 2 simulcast the final, with commentary by Ken Bruce, but did not broadcast the results show.
Competing entries
The contest was opened by The Ravenscroft Partnership, a group assembled by Raf Ravenscroft, the man responsible for re-working the theme tune to soap opera Crossroads. "We Will Protect You" was an uptempo anthem. Other members of the Partnership were: Mark Arnell from Portsmouth, Al Vosper of Exeter, Don Richardson from London, Anthony Clark who played keyboards, Graham Ward of Cheshunt on drums and Siobhan Cunnigham on tambourine. Al Vosper, Dave Trant, Keith Gater and Barry Brettell had previously been in the group First Class who had a hit in the UK with "Beach Baby" in 1974. One of the writers of "We Will Protect You" Julian Littman was a Womble Next on stage was Christopher Ellis with the romantic ballad "Straight to Your Heart". Eighteen-year-old Samantha Janus was the performer of the Paul Curtis composition, "A Message to Your Heart", an uptempo effort with a memorable hook. Janus was backed by three female vocalists one of whom, Nicky Belcher, was the sister of former New Seekers member Lyn Paul. Christie was the female soloist singing a mid-tempo ballad called "Nothing on This Earth". Christie was actually Joanne Castle from Croydon and had won "Young Performer of the Year 1987" at the Theatre Royal, Norwich Malcolm Roberts was a well-known face from the 1960s and had previously represented Luxembourg in the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest. His 1991 entry was a big ballad called "One Love". Malcolm had previously won the Hawaiian Song Festival and Knokke Cup. "A Little Bit of Heaven" was a typical Eurovision anthem performed by Lorraine Craig with aid of a female backing singer and two men strumming guitars. Lorraine had already won "WHICH cd Magazine" award for Best Jazz Newcomer in 1986. She also appeared in "Intervision" in Russia and East Germany. Julie Finney had fought off a throat infection to participate in the final and did so with the dramatic ballad, "True Love". Finally, a mid-tempo entry in an almost folk style, "Lover Come In" sung by Brendan Faye. Brendan was a former member of the Holywood Swing Jazz Band and is managed by Wayne Bickerton co-author of "A Love for all Seasons" by Champagne at the 1976 "Song for Europe" contest.
