The United Kingdom and success at the Eurovision Song Contest have been distant strangers for a long time.

But twenty years ago today (3 May), Katrina and the Waves led the UK to victory at the 42nd incarnation of the competition with Love Shine a Light, a feel-good number that stole the hearts of Eurovision fans.

In a 2009 interview, frontwoman Katrina Leskanich gave her view on why the song was so successful.

"It was such a feel-good, lighters-in-the-air, cheesy number. It would have been embarrassing for it not to win," she said.

"It had 'I am a winner' written all over it. Our song was quickly forgotten because we didn't have any sensational gimmick like Bucks Fizz."

Since our victory in Dublin on 3 May 1997, we've not had much luck.

The nadir came in 2003, when British pop group Gemini failed to score any points at all with their rendition of Cry Baby – described by veteran Louis Walsh as a "disgrace".

"It's like somebody went into Boots, found the first person they saw behind the counter, asked them if they could sing and they said 'no', but they picked them anyway," he said.

It was, arguably, the UK's lowest moment in Eurovision history.

This year, former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones will represent the UK with her aptly-named entry Never Give Up On You - which could, as we hope every year, see us victorious again.

Until then, let's relive our winning song one more time.

Eurovision 1997
Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves at Eurovision in 1997 Reuters/Michael Urban