Eurovision winner Cheryl Baker, best known as a member of Bucks Fizz, has expressed concerns regarding the increasing sexual content of the Eurovision Song Contest. Baker, who gained fame for the band's skirt-ripping routine during their 1981 winning performance of "Making Your Mind Up," believes the contest has become too extreme and inappropriate for children.
Baker's comments were particularly pointed towards this year’s UK entry by Olly Alexander. Alexander performed his song "Dizzy" in a neon-lit bathroom, surrounded by shirtless male dancers in red shorts and leather cod-pieces, which Baker described as suggestive and a possible reason for his poor public reception. Alexander ended up 18th out of 25 acts in the final held in Malmö, Sweden.
Lembit Opik, a former Liberal Democrat MP, also criticized Alexander's performance. He took to social media to voice his outrage, accusing the BBC of promoting vulgar content and stating he had to stop his daughter from watching. Opik's criticism, however, was met with backlash, with many online accusing him of hypocrisy due to his past relationship with one of the Cheeky Girls, known for their provocative performances.
Both Baker and Opik have called for a reassessment of the content presented at Eurovision, with Baker suggesting a return to less sexualized performances to make the event more family-friendly.