Olly Alexander, pop star and Bafta-nominated actor in Russell T. Davies drama It’s a Sin, will symbolize the UK within the subsequent Eurovision Track Contest.
The information was revealed in the course of the ultimate of BBC1 dance competitors present Strictly Come Dancing final night time. “I like Eurovision a lot, it’s a dream come true,” stated Claudia Winkleman.
The choice breaks with the standard course of within the UK, with the BBC normally veiling its Eurovision plans within the new yr. Final yr’s British entrant, Mae Muller was second to final as Sweden gained via Eurovision icon Loreen gained.
The Swedish metropolis of Malmö will host the 68th version of the worldwide singing contest, which airs throughout Europe on public broadcasters and world wide.
Alexander’s Eurovision track, co-written with Due Lipa songwriter Danny L Harle, can be revealed in the end.
Alexander was beforehand the frontman of Years and Years, however is now releasing music underneath his personal identify. The trailblazing star has two UK primary albums and was just lately awarded the Brit Billion Award, with 6.5 billion streams of his music globally). His efficiency Channel 4’s AIDS epidemic drama It’s A Sin gained Greatest New Drama on the Nationwide Tv Awards, and he was nominated for Main Actor on the 2022 BAFTA Tv Awards.
“As a younger boy I all the time appeared ahead to this unbelievable occasion of unbridled pleasure, the splendidly chaotic mixture of musical kinds, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour,” he stated. “I actually can’t imagine I’m going to be part of such a particular legacy and fly the flag for the UK within the gayest means doable, it shall be an honour.”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Leisure on the BBC, added: “To have an artist of Olly Alexander’s calibre representing the UK in Malmö in 2024 is testomony to simply how a lot the BBC desires to maintain momentum of Eurovision driving excessive for the reason that UK had the honour of internet hosting the competition on behalf of Ukraine in Liverpool earlier this yr. Olly is the right ambassador for the UK as each an immensely proficient and world famend artist and passionate fan of the competitors.”
Eurovision 2024 will comprise a pair of semi-finals and the grand ultimate. They are going to be held on Could 7, 9 and 11.
