In 2025, the United Kingdom hosted the largest Eurovision Song Contest celebration to date, dubbed ‘Manchagen’. The event showcased live performances by this year’s Eurovision contestants alongside legendary acts from past editions.
Nicki French represented The United Kingdom in 2000 with her song ‘Dont Play That Song Again’.
Nicki has remained very much a part of the Eurovision community and we caught up with her in person to discuss everything ESC at Manchagen’s yellow carpet event ahead of the concert.
Nicki French, firstly, how are you?
I’m good, thank you. How are you?
Yes, good, thank you.
Are you looking forward to tonight?
I can’t wait! We went to the pre-party sort of event last night, which was amazing, but we are ready for the main event tonight. Could you tell our readers about you and your history with Eurovision?
Oh gosh! So, I was the UK’s representative in the year 2000, so this is my silver anniversary this year, 25 years! Oh, I feel so old, and I’ve stayed with Eurovision ever since. I love it. I love everything to do with it. I love all the people, and I’ve released a couple of albums based on Eurovision, and I just love meeting all the other artists, that’s so enjoyable.
It really does have a community feel to it, doesn’t it?
Yeah! You know, there have been times where UK artists have asked for my advice on what to expect at Eurovision, and that’s lovely. I just love everything to do with it, and this is my favourite time of year, doing Eurovision shows.
You were very present in Liverpool when the United Kingdom hosted on behalf of Ukraine in 2023. How was that week?
That was just amazing. That was the most amazing week. Were you there?
I was! Just an incredible week.
The atmosphere was just fabulous. Yeah, and I did such a mixture of things. Yes, I did my normal gigs at Euroclub, but there was also one where we were in a café, and there were four of us all connected with Eurovision, just answering questions from the public. It was just the most fantastic time. So yeah, that was a good one, a good year.
Any thoughts on the songs this year?
I’ve heard a few. I love the Netherlands (Claude), and Israel is just… I have to say, last year France just gave me goosebumps the whole time. I loved it, and that reminds me of that. I’m a sucker for a good, big, strong ballad. And, I mean, you’ve got the big, strong favourites like Sweden, Austria. I think Ireland are a dark horse, but yeah, there are some good ones and some not-so-good ones.
That’s what we love about Eurovision.
Absolutely. That’s what we love about Eurovision. And what’s also great is that you watch online, and the opinions are so diverse. One person’s first place is another person’s last place.
That’s what makes it so thrilling each year.
It’s great, and nobody knows until you get there on the night, and the jury votes start coming in. And now we get the public votes, I love that.
You love the drama!
Completely and utterly! It really is, and I think also this year there are a few acts that would normally be classed as novelty artists, but they are being serious this year. So it will be interesting to see how the voting goes from the public.
There’s going to be an interesting dynamic this year, I think. Finally, what does Eurovision mean to you? All these years on, you’re still heavily involved each season, and the community loves you!
Work! That’s what it means! No, I do—I love it. I love the glamour. I love going to buy new outfits specifically for a Eurovision show, and especially, as I said before, meeting other artists. Linda (Martin) and I did Eurovision on tour last year, and it was fantastic going around the world. We ended up in Australia and worked with all these different artists, some I knew, but many I didn’t. And you know, I’m still in contact with them, and we all got on so, so well. And that’s what Eurovision is all about—a big family. As I’ve always said, Eurovision does more for international relations than any politician ever could.
You can follow Nicki on social media and check out my other interviews.