Katrina Leskanich, who as the frontwoman of Katrina and the Waves won the competition 20 years ago with Love Shine A Light, launched a scathing attack on the broadcaster.
The singer said the corporation’s continual championing of former X Factor contestants was one of the reasons the UK did not stand a chance of winning.
This year’s UK entrant is an ex-competitor from the ITV talent show, Lucie Jones, who will perform Never Give Up On You in Saturday’s final.
Five other former X Factor contestants were among the hopefuls put forward by the BBC to compete in Kiev.
But Ms Leskanich said: “A bunch of X Factor rejects? That just says it all. How horrible is that?
“Isn’t it just a colossal waste of money not to take it a bit more seriously, and try a little harder?”
Talking about the BBC choosing the representative internally from 2011 to 2015, she continued: “We kept choosing such terrible representatives that you just knew from the get-go they weren’t going to win.”
Ms Leskanich will appear on the BBC coverage of the show this Saturday, reading out the UK’s votes.
The 57-year-old also spoke about the decision to allow Australia to join the contest in 2015.
She said: “Why aren’t New Zealand in the contest? Why isn’t Canada? I think a lot of countries are going to wonder why they can’t be involved if Australia can. I think, possibly, the day will come when there will be a Middle Eastern division of Eurovision.”
The UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy pay higher fees to enter the competition in return for a guaranteed place, but Leskanich said the cost should be spread more equally according to each country’s GDP.
She said: “These countries aren’t getting good scores, but they’re still having to foot the bill.”
Meanwhile, Ms Jones has spoken about her Eurovision goals.
She said: “I just don’t want to come last, really. If we get no points I’ll be disappointed, but anything else is going to be a win.
“All I’ve got to do is not go on and fall flat on my face, and hit a bum note.”
Last night a BBC spokesman played down Ms Leskanich’s comments.
He said: “Katrina is a huge supporter of Eurovision and the BBC.
“She took part as one of three expert panellists on Eurovision: You Decide last year and performed.
“She looks forward to her role as UK spokesperson this year and is in full support of Lucie Jones.”
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
