Waterloo..fated to be with you

Documentary recalls how song contest was key to band's success

- NICOLA METHVEN

A MAN who gave ABBA "nul points" at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest said he stands by his decision, despite their rise to superstardom.

Basil Herwald was one of the 10 UK jurors who could give a point to their favourite performer - and not one gave it to the Swedish band.

His recollection features in next week's BBC show, When ABBA Came to Britain, which tells how the band. fell in love with the UK following their Eurovision victory.

Asked what he thought when they sang Waterloo in Brighton, Basil says: "Not a lot. People say to me, 'Surely you were blown away by them?' but we weren't."

Five of the UK votes went to the favourite act from Italy, while ABBA received none.

"We weren't the only ones," laughs Basil in his defence. "Four other countries gave them no points at all."

But when ABBA won the contest that year, did they finally realise how wrong they had been?

"No," says Basil. "Most of us still thought the Italian song should have won."

But he admits: "ABBA won't be surprised to know that I don't think I'd have managed a career in music. I became a lawyer." 

Basil may not have felt the band's magic but it was not long before Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus took the world by storm.

In the film, which contains never-before-heard archive audio interviews with the singers, Bjorn says Eurovision was a career turning point.

He adds: "Suddenly the world is open to us. That was a tremendous feeling" The band was formed when Frida and Agnetha started going out with Benny and Bjorn.