SOME 35 years ago Cheryl Baker ripped her skirt off in front of a worldwide TV audience of millions and the rest- as they say, is history!

It was a stand-out moment in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. The year was 1981, the song was 'Making Your Mind Up', and that piece of wardrobe wizardry could well have helped Bucks Fizz bring the winners’ medal home to the UK.

The Band’s line up is classic Eurovision – two boys, two girls, dance routines, harmonies and extravagant outfits.

Originally put together as the perfect winning act, Bucks Fizz went far beyond their original Eurovision remit and as one of the biggest selling bands of the 80’s became a global phenomenon. 'Making Your Mind Up' became a number one hit across the world selling more than four million copies. The legendary skirt-ripping routine propelled them to overnight success charting at No. 1 in nine countries beyond the UK.

Now Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston are joined by Bobby McVay, himself a Eurovision veteran having represented the UK in 1983 with the band, Sweet Dreams, singing “I’m Never Giving Up”, which came a credible sixth in the competition.

As Cheryl looks forward to appearing with her bandmates at the King's Theatre Portsmouth tomorrow ( Sunday) - as well as Let's Rock, Southampton on July 9, she says she knows why Britain no longer fares well in the much maligned competition ...they don't have a "gimmick".

And if it wasn't for their skirt strip of the eighties she believes they would not have won.

Cheryl, now a youthful 62, is well placed to comment on the contest's ups and downs. After all, prior to winning she entered the contest in 1978 with the group Cocoa and suffered a humiliating defeat.

" We came 11th and it was the worst the UK had ever done! Now though 11th sounds like a good result! " she laughs.

Asked her views on Eurovision today she says:" I think - disregarding the fact it's a competition, as a show it's the biggest extravaganza of the year with all the special effects and the theatre is huge. When we did it it was just people from the music business in the audience. Now it's full of flag- waving England fans. If you look back at our performance it looks like they are watching an opera it was so stuffy. The show is so much bigger and better now but being bigger there are so many more contenders now. You must have the best song, performance - and gimmick. You must have something that makes people remember you.

"Last year we had the ghostly figures and the year before we had the bearded lady! These are things that make you remember them as long as the performance is strong. The gimmick is as important as the performance and the visual effects. Our entry last year was a pleasant ditty but they just stood and sang."

But what about claims it is all political now with countries voting for their closest allies?

"Politics are mentioned a lot, " Cheryl muses, "We can't blame politics completely but perhaps we don't deserve to come last."

We even came last with chart-toppers Blue so who does she thing would do well?

" One Direction! A young boy or girl band, maybe even Little mix. I don't think it's degrading to do it but a lot of them wouldn't do it because they don't want to risk not doing well."

Cheryl and her bandmates are as busy as they ever were with a huge theatre tour and festival dates lined up.

"We have about 35-40 gigs and some festivals this year - including Let's Rock Southampton. At the festivals we will just do the hits. The Kings Theatre show will include all the hits and medleys " all done as was back in the day with all the routines that people expect.

“It’ll be a proper Bucks Fizz show – including the three number ones (The Land Of Make Believe, My Camera Never Lies and Making Your Mind Up).

“Plus all the top 10s and top 20s we had. We sold millions of records. It’s a little reminder of what we did in the 1980s.

"You should give fans what they want. I always remember going to see Ralph McTell years ago and he refused to sing his big hit Streets of London and I was so disappointed. People want to go back in time and relive those times. It's a nostalgic night.

"If you had asked me 35 years ago if I'd be doing this I would have said that would be really sad, but I really love it. I was working on a cruise ship recently and someone said to me what do you think you will be doing in five years and I said I hope I will be doing the same thing. Age is immaterial. People will look and think aren't they great! We still rip the skirts off and considering our age I would have said that's sad but it still gets a huge cheer!Jo and I have still got legs! Making Your Mind Up is the last song and people all stand for it."

It isn't all about reliving the eighties though. The band brought out a new album just three years ago called Fame and Fortune.

"It was half new and half re- worked Bucks Fizz songs. It was released as a CD but is now available as a vinyl in blue. We have just started a new album with a reputable producer - there's still a market out there for us!

We get all the generations coming to see us - it's absolutely lovely," she says.

Cheryl lives in Kent with her husband of 23 years, Steve Stroud, their 20-year-old twin daughters, Kyla and Natalie and their two German shepherds, called Bella and Simba.

As well as singing she has been a presenter, an actor and has directed various student productions. She’s written her autobiography and toured the UK with Happy Days The Musical playing Mrs Cunningham.

“I love being busy. I couldn’t imagine not working,” she says.

Kings Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 2SH

Tel: +44 (0)23 9282 8282

www.letsrocksouthampton.com/