It wouldn’t be Eurovision if anyone could agree on the merits of the United Kingdom’s entry.
Sure enough, Still In Love With You, the up-tempo electric swing number chosen for this year’s contest, has been met with a mixed response.
Actor Mark Gatiss was among those unconvinced that Electro Velvet’s track could yield an upturn in the UK’s fortunes at the event following several barren years.
“Just heard our Eurovision entry. Doomed again,” he wrote on Twitter. Other unfavourable reviews included “God awful” and “rubbish”.
There were, however, some who were surprised by the negativity.
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Among them was the television presenter Richard Madeley. “Why negativity about Electro Velvet’s UK Eurovision entry? It’s good fun!” he said.
Robin Windsor, a dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, was even more effusive. “Am I the only one who loves the eurovision entry for the UK?” he wrote on Twitter.
Paul Jordan, a Eurovision expert, said that the UK has “sent worse”, adding that he “really likes” the song.
Electro Velvet are a musical duo consisting of Alex Larke and Bianca Nicholas.
Alex, 35, and Bianca, 26, will fly the flag in Vienna at the 60th staging of the event in front of an estimated global audience of more than 180 million viewers.
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A lack of success in recent years saw former shop assistant Molly Smitten-Downes placing a lowly 17th, Bonnie Tyler finishing 19th and crooner Engelbert Humperdinck placing second to last.
The UK also endured a string of failures in previous years with Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen and boyband Blue.