Who will be at the London Preview Party?

Scott Fitzgerald UK entrant 1988.

London, United Kingdom - Apart from the 16 acts from this year's contest appearing at the seventh London Preview Party on Sunday 13th April, there will be two former winners of Europe's favourite Tv Show plus several former entrants from across Europe performing at the Café de Paris in the west end of London. Let's find out more about the guest line-up.

We are the winners

Headlining the guest list for the London Preview Party are Anne Marie David who won the contest in 1973 for Luxembourg with the song Tu Te Reconnaîtras, and Linda Martin who won the contest in 1992 for Ireland with the song Why Me?
Both artists have the distinction of twice appearing in the contest, Anne Marie David returned in 1979 to represent France with the song Je Suis L'Enfant Soleil, which finished in a highly respectable third place, whilst Linda Martin had previously finished a close second in 1984 for ireland with the song Terminal Three.

Watch our interview with Anne Marie David

Watch Linda Martin perform Why Me?

What if

Someone who came very close to joining that list of Eurovision winners, is Scott Fitzgerald, who finished in second place in 1988 for the United Kingdom with the song Go, finishing just one point behind Celine Dion from Switzerland.

Meet Scott Fitzgerald in our video

Flying the flag

Two other former entrants will also be appearing on the London stage, and no doubt offering their support to their fellow 2014 entrants. Sarbel who finished in seventh place in the 2007 contest for Greece with the song Yassou Maria and Marcin Mrozinski, who represented Poland in the 2010 contest with the song Legenda.

Watch Marcin Mronzinski perform Legenda

Friends in London

This is the seventh edition of the London Preview Party. It all started in 2008, and in 2010 the responsibility for the organisation was taken on by Russell Davies and Kabir Naidoo, with Roy Bennett joining the organising team in 2014, with Vasil Ivanov and Deian Yordanov taking on the website this year. They are assisted by numerous volunteers who help out in running the event, and supported by several sponsors, including escxtra.com.

In what way is the event different from Eurovision In Concert? "We like to showcase each artist, and give htem the opportunity to perform maybe two or three songs, to show their personality, and a chance to chat with the audience" says Russell Davies.
"The artists love being in the heart of London, and enjoy the intimate setting of the event" adds Russell "although this year we aim to offer a more glamorous location with the Café de Paris".
Russell does have his own favourite moment, and that was seeing Kaliopi on stage in 2012 performing Samo Ti, the song that failed to get past the pre qualifying round for F.Y.R Macedonian in 1996.
Last year the guest list included the eventual Eurovision Song Contest winner, Emmelie de Forest, as Russell recalls when she came off stage she said "I can't believe the audience was singing along to my song, they knew all the words". It was one of the sweetest moments for the team.
Will this year's Eurovision Song Contest winner be amongst the artists appearing at the London Preview Party? We will know in just one month's time on the 10th May!

Who would you like to see appear at the London Preview Party?