**Sam Ryder Urges Eurovision Acts Not to Be Defined by Scores Following Remember Monday’s Result**
British Eurovision veteran Sam Ryder has offered words of encouragement to girl group Remember Monday, emphasising that their place at this year’s song contest “doesn’t define” them. The trio, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, came 19th in the May final, despite scoring 88 points from the national juries with their performance of “What The Hell Just Happened?” However, the group received no points from the public vote. Despite the outcome, Ryder insists their Eurovision experience was a major accomplishment in itself.
Remember Monday made history as the first UK girl group to compete on the Eurovision stage since 1999. While their final standing was lower than Olly Alexander’s 18th-place finish for the UK in 2024, it was still an improvement on Mae Muller’s result the year before. Media speculation has surrounded the UK’s ongoing struggles at Eurovision, making Ryder’s supportive message particularly timely.
Sam Ryder, who captured the nation’s imagination with his 2022 runner-up finish—the UK’s best in over two decades—spoke to ITV’s This Morning about the importance of perspective in a high-stakes competition. “Nothing can define you past that point,” Ryder remarked, suggesting that the real value lies in the artistry, not the ranking. He encouraged artists to perform and write for the sheer love of music, calling participation itself a privilege.
Addressing the psychological pressures that come with performing on such a grand stage, Ryder added: “Everyone turns up hoping for a certain result, but Eurovision can only reward so many. Just taking part is a massive achievement, and it’s important to remember the contest doesn’t owe anyone anything, because the gift is in the music itself.” According to Ryder, the experience should serve as a reminder of why artists pursue their craft in the first place.
Ryder was keen to stress that all participants deserve “respect” for bringing their talents to such an enormous platform. He sent “loads of love” to this year’s acts, noting that he himself was away touring during Eurovision week but kept a close eye on proceedings. In his view, every performer who took to the stage is part of something truly “magical,” regardless of the score.
The 2025 contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, concluded with Austria’s JJ taking the crown for “Wasted Love,” praised for its touching emotional delivery. For Remember Monday and other contenders, the conversation now shifts to future opportunities beyond the Eurovision bubble.
Sam Ryder’s own story adds weight to his perspective. Rising to prominence through TikTok, he signed with Parlophone and released his debut EP in 2021 before his meteoric Eurovision journey. Recently, he revealed on This Morning that he is “putting down roots” in Nashville—a city renowned for its musical heritage—which has long been a personal dream. Nonetheless, Ryder admitted that ongoing commitments, including finishing his album in the UK, have made for a whirlwind schedule and little rest.
Ryder’s post-Eurovision achievements have been considerable. He earned an Emmy nomination for penning “Fought & Lost” with the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso, released a Christmas hit that reached number two in the charts, and topped the album charts with “There’s Nothing But Space, Man!”
As Eurovision continues to evolve, the debate about the UK’s fortunes remains unresolved. Yet Ryder’s comments provide a much-needed reminder that, for both artists and fans, the heart of Eurovision lies in community, creativity, and the unifying power of performance—well beyond the final scoreboard.