SAMANTHA Mumba blames Dustin the Turkey for Ireland’s recent Eurovision woes.
The Gotta Tell You star is hoping to represent the country at this year’s contest in Basel, Switzerland, with self-penned tune My Way.
But the singer and actress, 42, fears Irish acts are still being hampered by the The Den legend Dustin’s infamous performance.
The fowl-mouthed bird was selected as Ireland’s 2008 entry — with Ireland Douze Pointe failing to make it out of the semis.
Dustin’s divisive performance kicked off a long run of Eurovision bad luck for Ireland.
We failed to make it to the final in nine of the 15 contests that followed.
And while last year’s entry, Bambie Thug, got our best result in 20 years, it was only sixth place.
It’s a far cry from Ireland’s seven wins — a record now shared with Sweden.
And asked about our poor performances, Samantha told The Irish Sun: “I do blame Dustin. I think Dustin just put everybody off Ireland for a while to be completely honest. Because to be fair, up until that point, Ireland’s run had been incredible.
“But that was years ago. Maybe enough time has passed, that we are forgiven and it’s time for Ireland to bring Eurovision home again. I blame Dustin but I do have a lot of time for him.”
Samantha became a global star aged just 17 with her 2000 debut single, Gotta Tell You.
It hit No1 here, No2 in the UK and No4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America.
And the mum is hoping to see similar success if she is picked to represent us on Friday’s Late Late Eurosong final.
But Samantha has revealed she will not be getting into any political rows if she ends up flying the flag for us in Basel.
Last year, Bambie Thug missed their final rehearsal due to a backstage “situation”, amid tensions between delegations over Israel’s participation as war raged in Gaza.
Stressing that she is a fan of the Cork Doomsday Blue star, Samantha said: “I don’t know what Bambie Thug’s experience was.
“But Eurovision was started to bring countries together after World War Two. Eurovision is something that unites people and I don’t think it’s a political thing at all.
“In fact, it’s the opposite of that, it’s supposed to unite people through music.”
Samantha will have to battle it out with five other acts — Bobbi Arlo, EMMY, NIYL, Adgy and Reylta — on Friday’s Eurosong.
And despite being the best known act by miles, and having scored top ten hits around the world as a teenager, the star knows she has her work cut out for her.
‘I’M A GRAFTER’
But Samantha is happy the public will be making the final decision on our act.
She told us: “I much prefer the idea of performing live with everyone else on the Late Late. I want to be picked by the public and not the other way around.
“I’m a grafter and I’ve put more into this than some of my own projects. I’m singing my own song and I really believe in it. The feedback I’m getting is that other people are connecting with it too.”
Right now, Samantha is only thinking of singing her heart out on the Patrick Kielty-hosted Late Late Eurosong in two days’ time.
‘I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE CONTROL’
However, the Always Come Back to Your Love pop star vowed she will be in charge if her track is selected to represent us.
It comes after Irish singer and Eurovision superfan CMAT said RTE calling the shots over what she would wear or sing put her off entering the competition.
Samantha insisted: “I would have to have control over it, 100 per cent.
“But I have done all right up to this point. So why would you fix something that’s not broken. I’m performing a song I wrote, I could never be this comfortable singing a song I hadn’t written.
SECOND HOME THOUGHTS
“I have to be on stage expressing myself. It comes from a different place. But so far, RTE have been great and it was dealing with Michael Kealy, RTE’s Head of Delegation, that persuaded me to do this. He was great and I’m sure that would continue.”
Samantha currently lives in Los Angeles with husband Torray Scales and their nine-year-old daughter Sage.
But the Dublin native revealed they are considering getting a second home here now Donald Trump is back in power.
However, she said any decision on where to live would be taken with the welfare of their daughter in mind.
Samantha said: “I don’t think anyone with any sense would be excited that Trump is President. Honestly I still can’t believe that he is back.
“Like anybody with any brain cells, it’s just shocking, the whole thing, to say the least.”
The Eurovision final takes place on Saturday, May 17.
Ireland will aim to clinch a place in the second semi-final on Thursday, May 15.
