Steps singer Claire Richards has said her pop group doing the Eurovision Song Contest would be the “kiss of death”.
The 45-year-old singer – who has appeared in the band alongside Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans, Lisa Scott-Lee and Ian “H” Watkins – performed at the Eurovision fan village in Liverpool this year.
However, she did not seem keen on the idea of heading to Malmo next year to represent the UK.
On Friday, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the Swedish city will host the competition in 2024 after the country won this year’s contest.
Richards told Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4: “Everyone says ‘You’d win it’. I’m not entirely sure that we would.
“The actual Eurovision people have never asked us so I’m kind of on the fence. I’ve said no, I’ve said maybe, I’ve said I just don’t know.
“I feel like it’s the kiss of death. You just don’t know though, Sam (Ryder), one year he came second and then Mae (Muller), bless her, came second last so you just don’t know, I’m too old to risk it!”
Richards will release her solo album, Euphoria, in August, which she said pays homage to “incredible female vocalists who shaped my craft as a singer and an artist”.
Her title track and name of her record is a nod to Swedish singer Loreen, who became the first woman to win Eurovision twice after she won the competition in 2012 with Euphoria and in 2023 with Tattoo.
This year’s British entrant, London-born Muller, came second last with I Wrote A Song.
She claimed 24 points as Germany came below the UK, on 18 points.
The UK has won Eurovision a total of five times so far, behind joint leaders Sweden and Ireland on seven each.