The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, sending their 54th entry to the contest. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the broadcaster responsible for the United Kingdom entry, internally selected successful boy band Blue to compete at Eurovision, where they performed the song "I Can". Their selection was reported on 29 January 2011, and their song was publicly performed for the first time on 11 March.

Being one of the favourites to win the contest, the United Kingdom finished in 5th place in the public vote of the final with 166 points and 11th in the 50/50 jury split, receiving a total of 100 points from 25 of 43 votes. Had only the jury decided the outcome, "I Can" would have finished in 22nd place. Shortly after the contest the entry was seen in the top ten iTunes download charts in several Eurovision countries.

The United Kingdom first entered the contest in 1957, the second contest held. The BBC had initially attempted to compete in the first contest the year before; however, the broadcaster missed the deadline for entries and were unable to participate. The United Kingdom's first entry, "All" by Patricia Bredin, was – and still remains – the shortest entry in the history of the contest, at 1:52 minutes. However, their first entry failed to impress the European juries, finishing in 7th place out of 10 songs, with only 6 votes. As a result of their poor placing, the BBC did not compete in the 1958 contest; however, after the success of the Italian entry of that year, "Nel blu dipinto di blu" performed by Domenico Modugno, more commonly known as "Volare", the United Kingdom decided to return, and began the longest uninterrupted run of entries in the contest to date.

Since that time, the United Kingdom has won the contest a total of five times: in 1967 with "Puppet on a String" by Sandie Shaw; one of four winners of the 1969 contest with "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu; in 1976 with the Brotherhood of Man song "Save Your Kisses for Me"; in 1981 with "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz; and most recently in 1997 with "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves". The United Kingdom also holds the record for the most second-place finishes, a total of 15.

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