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| In 1961, the BBC introduced a new concept for the United Kingdom song selection, called A Song for Europe - a title that would be used continuously until 1995 and was reintroduced for the contests in 2001, 2002 and 2003. |
| Transmission Date: | Wednesday 15th February 1961 |
| Channel: | BBC Television |
| Time: | 19.20-20.30 |
| Venue: | BBC TV Theatre London |
Presenter: | Katie Boyle |
| Backing Vocals: | Beryl Stott Singers and George Mitchell Singers |
| Musical Associate: | Alan Bristow |
Voting: | Twelve regional juries: Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds, Bangor, Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Bristol & Southampton |
Winning Song: | Are You Sure The Allisons |
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Scoreboard
|
| SONG | Performer(s) | Composer(s) | Conductor | TOTAL | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Girl | Mark Wynter (aka Terence Lee Lewis) | William Crompton & Morgan Jones | Johnny Douglas | 16 | 4 |
| 2 | The Girl Next Door | Craig Douglas (aka Terence Perkins) | Bunny Lewis (aka Bridges Lewis) & Harry Robinson (aka Henry MacLeod Robertson) | Harry Robinson (aka Henry MacLeod Robertson) | 3 | 7= |
| 3 | Why Can't We | Ricky Valance (aka David Spencer) | Eric Boswell | Frank Barber | 24 | 3 |
| 4 | A Place In The Country | Bryan Johnson | Tim Page, Harry Shaberman & John Harris | Johnny Douglas | 6 | 5 |
| 5 | I Will Light A Candle | Anne Shelton | Jack Waterhouse | Wally Stott | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Suddenly I'm In Love | Steve Arlen | Eric Boswell | Frank Cordell | 30 | 2 |
| 7 | Too Late For Tears | Valerie Masters | David Lee & Clive Westlake | Johnny Gregory | 3 | 7= |
| 8 | Tommy | Teresa Duffy | John Watson | Bob Sharples | 3 | 7= |
| 9 | Are You Sure | The Allisons (Bernard Colin Day and John Alford) | John Allison (aka John Alford) | Harry Robinson (aka Henry MacLeod Robertson) | 31 | 1 |
| Voting information taken with permission from Songs For Europe Volume One - The1950s and 1960s by Gordon Roxburgh |
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The Allisons at The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 |
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At The Eurovision Song Contest 1961
| At the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 in Cannes, France on Saturday 18th March 1961, Are You Sure finished in 2nd place with 24 points. The song was conducted by Harry Robinson. Tom Sloan provided the commentary for BBC Television. |