Former UK Eurovision contestant Clodagh Rodgers dead at 78
Singer Clodagh Rodgers, who represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest, has died aged 78 following a short illness.
Rodgers was the UK’s entry to the annual competition in 1971 when she performed her hit song ‘Jack in the Box’, which finished in fourth place. It also landed at fourth place in the UK Singles Chart following the performance by Rodgers.
The Northern Irish singer’s decision to represent the United Kingdom was contentious due to her Catholic faith, which led to her receiving death threats.
While she was signed to Decca in the early 1960s, it wasn’t until the end of the decade that she began to gain prominence following the success of her hit single, ‘Come Back and Shake Me’, in 1969. Her other hits included ‘Lady Love Bug’, and ‘It’s Different Now’.
Outside of her recording career, Rodgers appeared in West End productions and also had a recurring role in the ITV drama The Bill in the 2000s after returning from a hiatus to focus on raising her children.
Her death has been confirmed by her son, Sam Sorbie, who revealed she died on April 18th, surrounded by loved ones in Cobham, Surrey.
Sorbie wrote: “With a heavy heart, my dear beautiful mum Clodagh has sadly passed away after battling an illness for the last three years. She passed away peacefully yesterday surrounded by her family in Cobham.”
He continued: “Mum has lived an incredible life, full of love and happiness. Her fantastic career performing, travelling the world, devoting her life to her two sons and being the rock of this family. Life will not be the same without Mum, but she will finally be at peace now with dad, nanny and pappa. We all love and miss her terribly.”
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