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United Kingdom: Olly Alexander’s song release date still unknown!

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No release date has yet been set for the song Olly Alexander will represent the UK with, according to BBC Studio executive producer Lee Smithurst.

BBC Studio executive producer Lee Smithurst exclusively told The Euro Trip podcast that they are looking for the most appropriate way to release this year’s UK entry, with ambitions being high.

We’re keeping our options open. We’ve got a few pointers, but we’re just trying to figure out which is the best one to go with.

Expectations following Olly Alexander’s announcement are very high, with the UK already leading the odds to win.

Our ambition is to win and for the single to reach number one and be another landmark moment for Eurovision in the UK.

So far no release date has been decided, with the discussion currently in the spotlight and soon to be concluded.

There is so much interest in Olly, but we want to make sure we are doing the right things and have so much exposure for the song. We want to do things a little bit differently.

This will be the lead single from the upcoming first solo album for Olly Alexander.

Source: Eurovoix

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

United Kingdom: “We are going to win with an incredibly commercially successful single”!

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We can undoubtedly say that a country that everyone is talking about since the representative’s announcement, is the United Kingdom!

The 33-year-old Olly Alexander is the representative of the United Kingdom, for about a month now. He is most commonly known as the singer of Year & Years, one of the most successful groups of Engand! After that announcement, the United Kingdom, is in the first places in the betting odds, and has raised high expectations even about winning the contest.

He has recently interested the media, with another cause, with his statements about Israel, by signing a letter, calling Israel an “apartheid regime”. There were many enraged comments and people even asked for the BBC to withdraw Olly Alexander from the contest. The public broadcaster, responded that they will allow Olly to express his political views freely. They surely, fully support their representative, who is the greatest name they have sent in recent years.

There are some new statements by the BBC, in “The EuroTrip Podcast”, to set the bar even higher for the 33-year-old singer:

“We are going there to win it with a single that is an incredibly commercially successful single”

BBC seems sure about the song Olly will sing in Malmö, and everyone’s expectations are high, so it’s just a matter of time to see whether they will come true! The only sure thing is that we will have our eyes on the United Kingdom this year!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the British participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: Eurotrippodcast

United Kingdom: BBC is asked to drop its entrant, Olly Alexander, after calling Israel an “apartheid regime”!

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We have not yet entered 2024 and the controversies have already started and are widely spreading. Following the request of the Icelandic Association of Composers to RÚV to withdraw from Eurovision 2024 due to the Israeli participation and the petition RTÉ received for the same reason, issues caused by the ongoing war in Israel have now spread to the United Kingdom.

A few days ago, it was revealed that Olly Alexander will fly the British flag to Malmö. His reveal has received positive feedback, as he is undoubtedly the most popular singer the United Kingdom has sent to the contest for year, but now his past actions have been causing controversy, while the BBC is urged by many to cut ties with him and replace him.

A letter Olly Alexander signed calling Israel and “apartheid regime”

Back in October 20, two weeks after Hamas’ attack in Israel, a statement was published by an LGBT charity, namely Voices4London. According to this statement, for 75 years the Israeli state has been terrorizing Palestinians and no queer person can stay silent while a genocide is taking place. Moreover, the same letter accuses Israel for pinkwashing as a part of Zionist propaganda, namely promoting a false LGBT- friendly attitude and calls every person interested in liberation, not to be afraid of being called an antisemitist and criticize the ongoing genocide.

The aforementioned statement was signed by Olly Alexander, an open member of the LGBTQ community.

The negative response

Since it emerged that Olly Alexander signed the letter, numerous voices inside the United Kingdom have been asking BBC to drop Alexander from the British representation.

First, the Embassy of Israel in London has officially responded to Olly Alexander’s allegations, stating that:

Clearly, Olly Alexander graduated from the Middle Eastern School of TikTok.

We would be happy to arrange a trip for you to visit the Oct 7 massacre sites in Israel, where the rights of LGBTQ+ [people] are celebrated, protected and cherished. Unfortunately, our neighbours can’t guarantee the same.

The Israeli government has joined the conversation mentioning that Olly Alexander’s arguments are “absurd” and those who signed the letter have bias against Israel. Moreover, Israeli spokesmen accuse BBC telling that:

Yet again, the BBC has fallen well short of its moral responsibility to adhere to the standard of due impartiality.

Particularly at this time, the decision of the BBC to send an entrant to Eurovision who espouses such partial views of Israel and promotes such dehumanising language of Israelis is a major cause for concern.

Hence, the criticism extends to the BBC itself and its attitude towards the ongoing war in general. BBC has faced heavy criticism of its coverage of fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas, avoiding to call the latter as terrorists.

At last, the topic has also caused controversy in the political scene of the country too, with Conservatives stating that:

Letting an openly anti-Israel singer compete on the same stage as Israel is either a massive oversight or sheer brass neck from the BBC.

BBC has yet to reply to any of the comments regarding its Eurovision artist’s choice. In fact, BBC declined to comment, while neither Alexander nor his team have.

Who is Olly Alexander?

The 33 year-old Olly Alexander is a singer and actor from England. He is best known for his work as the lead singer of Years & Years, one of the UK’s most successful groups and as Ritchie Tozer in the Channel 4 drama series “It’s a Sin”. Alexander has been multi-nominee in the Brit Awards as well as several other awards within the United Kingdom.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Sources: The Telegraph, Daily MailUK

United Kingdom: Rylan Clark comments “Eurovision Song Contest UK 2025”! | January 4 the release of the song?

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Last night, BBC announced that the Olly Alexander will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Specifically, Olly revealed the news during the Grand Final of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 16 December to a delighted studio audience and to the millions of viewers watching at home.

A while ago Rylan Clark, who had provided the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals commentary on BBC One with Scott Mills and hosted the grand final commentary on BBC Radio Two last May, took to X to comment on the selection of Olly Alexander as the UK representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden.

The song is co-written by Danny Harle, who has written with Charli XCX and Dua Lipa, and the artist himself.

This comment is really hyping the entire fandom up, to such an extent that they are hunting on Easter eggs on the video posted by Olly!

According to Lucy Percy and Wiwibloggs, there are a couple of Easter eggs to look out for:

Numbers one and four

These numbers aren’t immediately obvious, but the fact that one and four can be found more than once throughout the background might be a proof that these are a clue. Normally new releases are on a Friday in the UK and January 4 is a Thursday. Could it be something else important announced on that date?

La

A sticker on the London phone booth reads “La“. In the Channel 4 show called “It’s A Sin” where Olly starred, a large group of friends live together in a house and greet each other by saying “La!” to each other. Olly was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award and a BAFTA Award (the British Emmy Awards, basically) for his portrayal of the young queer character living through late 80s Britain.

Olly hugging himself

X user @corr1e noticed something key hiding away. In the image, on the pathway Olly is seen to be hugging another one of him. Could this mean the song is about self-love, or self-acceptance?

Several emojis

There are plenty of mixed emotions emojis stuck on the phone box. Could it point to the song being about mixed emotions?

Could it be that Rylan has already listened to the song? Let’s be patient and we will see in the next few weeks.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

Source: Wiwibloggs

What do you think about the speculations on the UK entry? Have you managed to spot any other Easter eggs on the photo?

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United Kingdom: “The song is not a ballad!” | Olly Alexander speaks at the BBC!

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Last night, BBC announced that the Olly Alexander will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Specifically, Olly revealed the news during the Grand Final of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 16 December to a delighted studio audience and to the millions of viewers watching at home.

The star later on backstage at Strictly Come Dancing, minutes after revealing live on air that he would be singing for the UK at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, he spoke to BBC about it! He kept it a secret for about two months and adds:

“I’ve known for about two months. It’s been really tough to keep it secret.”

But Olly is actually a massive Eurovision fan and comments on that:

“It goes right back to being a kid and watching the show with my family – ordering pizza and spending all night in front of the TV watching this insane, amazing show. It’s a bit like a spiritual homecoming for me because I love Eurovision so much. I love the theatrics, the drama. There’s such an amazing chaos of different musical styles and performers. You get so much on one night. It’s just so fun and camp.”

On the song he reveals that the song is a really good one and that he co-wrote it with Danny Harle, who has written with Charli XCX and Dua Lipa:

“I wrote the song with Danny Harle, and it’ll be coming next year. And it’s really good. That’s definitely the vibe. It’s gonna be electronic, something you can dance to. But yeah, I can’t say much more than that. I mean, it wasn’t gonna be a ballad. Or maybe it could have been a ballad. I love a ballad. Am I saying too much now? It’s not a ballad.”

Seemingly, BBC is taking it really seriously by announcing it so early this year. Olly makes it clear that he will be touring around Europe to promote the song, possible in most of the Eurovision pre-parties:

“I can’t wait to get out there and meet the fans and everyone else taking part. It’s going to be the wildest experience of my life.”

Who is Olly Alexander?

The 33 year-old Olly Alexander is a singer and actor from England. He is best known for his work as the lead singer of Years & Years, one of the UK’s most successful groups and as Ritchie Tozer in the Channel 4 drama series “It’s a Sin”. Alexander has been multi-nominee in the Brit Awards as well as several other awards within the United Kingdom.

Earlier today, Danny L Harle also commented on the song with a post on his X (Twitter) account:

Who is Danny L Harle?

Born on October 20, 1988, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Danny L Harle is a visionary producer and electronic music artist whose groundbreaking contributions have left an indelible mark on the UK music scene. As a prominent member of the PC Music collective, Harle gained widespread recognition for his innovative fusion of hyperkinetic beats and infectious melodies. His collaboration with Carly Rae Jepsen on “Broken Flowers” in 2015 showcased his ability to seamlessly blend experimental electronic elements with mainstream pop, catapulting him to the forefront of the industry. Notably, Harle has extended his influence through collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Dua Lipa, when he co-produced Lipa’s insistent comeback song “Houdini” along with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and Charli XCX, further solidifying his status as a sought-after producer and creative trailblazer in the dynamic landscape of electronic and pop music in the UK.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: BBC

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United Kingdom: Olly Alexander will be the country’s representative in Eurovision 2024!

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The Eurovision 2024 news do not stop from coming! Just moments ago, BBC announced that the Olly Alexander will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Specifically, Olly revealed the news during the Grand Final of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing tonight (Saturday 16 December) to a delighted studio audience and to the millions of viewers watching at home.

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1736123944409641377?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Who we got to Olly Alexander?

There was an extensive speculation regarding the successor of Mae Muller in the representation of the United Kingdom. Less than a month ago and as we updated you, “The Sun UK” revealed that Olly Alexander was in advanced talks with BBC. Moreover, according to a source of “The Sun UK” :

It’s a dream come true for Olly. Things aren’t quite locked in but he is a favourite with bosses.

Olly has said for ages he wants to have a crack at it — and after teaming up with Danny for the song he thinks we have a great shot.

He is aware people say that no established act in their right mind would go on the show due to the UK’s track record but as far as he is concerned that’s just ­snobbery.

A potentially very successful team up

Olly Alexander has a powerful ally on his side for his Eurovision bid. It is said that Danny L Harle, Dua Lipa’s producer, has put together Olly Alexander’s bid. Danny is the brains behind Dua’s latest smash hit “Houdini” and will probably serve as the executive producer on her upcoming third studio album.

Who is Olly Alexander?

The 33 year-old Olly Alexander is a singer and actor from England. He is best known for his work as the lead singer of Years & Years, one of the UK’s most successful groups and as Ritchie Tozer in the Channel 4 drama series “It’s a Sin”. Alexander has been multi-nominee in the Brit Awards as well as several other awards within the United Kingdom.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Source: BBC

Junior Eurovision 2023: Listen to the United Kingdom’s entry!

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Eurovision nerds would definitely notice that Junior Eurovision 2023 marks the first edition in Junior Eurovision history that all BIG-FIVE countries will meet on stage.

The United Kingdom is not an exception. In fact, along with Spain, they were the first to represent the “BIG-FIVE” at the children’s contest, debuting in the inaugural contest, in 2003. After an absence of 17 years, the United Kingdom returned in 2022. The great success of Freya last year in Yerevan, who managed to win the online voting, finishing fifth overall, set the bars high for the nation.

Hence, today it was revealed during the “Zoe Ball Breakfast Show” on BBC Radio 2, that STAND UNIQU3 will represent the United Kingdom in Nice with the song “Back To Life“.

The girls consisting  STAND UNIQU3 and their song were both selected internally by BBC Studios Entertainment and Music along with CBBC supporting.

You can listen to “Back To Life” by STAND UNIQU3, below:

Who are STAND UNIQU3?

The group consists of three girls, Hayla, Maisie and Yazmin, who were brought together by BBC because of their chemistry as a group.

12-year-old Hayla from Liverpool has an interesting family history when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest: her grandfather was a backing dancer for the 1987 UK entry.

Hayla herself is a big fan of Rihanna who she describes as being her biggest inspiration. As well as music, Hayla enjoys football and plays as a striker. Hayla’s ideal day would involve eating chocolate, watching movies and spending time with her brothers.

13-year-old Maisie from Essex loves to sing, dance and act on stage, as well as enjoying clay pigeon shooting with her grandad. She also loves to chill and she collects crystals.

12-year-old Yazmin from Newcastle is no stranger to performing in front of crowds, she enjoys Latin and Ballroom dancing. Yazmin loves cuddling up with her chihuahua Tinkerbell, writing stories, and shopping.

The 21st Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Nice, France, on the 26th of November, following Lissandro’s win last year in Yerevan.

What do you think of the British entry for Junior Eurovision 2023? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

United Kingdom: BBC One will broadcast all Eurovision 2024 shows!

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The BBC recently announced that the UK will compete in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Malmö, Sweden, in May 2024.

At the same time, it was announced that the two semi-finals of Eurovision 2024 as well as the grand final will all be broadcasted on BBC One, as was the case in 2023 when the country hosted the competition on behalf of Ukraine. The broadcaster’s decision to broadcast the contest once more on its top-rated and most popular channel is a sign of a significant shift in the latter’s perspective on the competition.

The record-breaking high television ratings from the competition last year, which reached 55% and 29.8 million people, had an important impact in this choice.

In addition, it was revealed that Lee Smithurst, executive producer for BBC Studios, and Will Wilkin, executive director for BBC Music, had spent the summer conducting a search for the UK’s upcoming participation in the Eurovision song contest.

This year, the United Kingdom was represented by Mae Muller with the song “I wrote a song”, finishing in 25th place with 24 points. Will the United Kingdom be able to achieve a higher position in Malmö ?

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun to stay up to date on all the latest news about the world’s largest music competition!

Source: Wiwibloggs 

United Kingdom: Eurovision-winning songwriter Linnea Deb shows interest in writing a UK Eurovision entry!

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One could say that Linnea is a hit-making-machine and that’s not wrong! Deb won the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2015, when she was one of the songwriters for Måns Zelmerlöw‘s Swedish entry “Heroes“, but that was not just it!

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United Kingdom: Internal selection is the most likely scenario for Eurovision 2024!

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United Kingdom, the host country of Eurovision 2023 recently announced that will not longer collaborate with TaP in order to select its Eurovision acts. BBC first collaborated with Tap Records in 2022, managing to achieve a 2nd place with Sam Ryder. This marked UK’s best result since 1998, which consequently brought Eurovision in British grounds. Sam Ryder’s success, renewed their collaboration for 2023 and the nation was represented by Mae Muller, who did not only repeat 2022 success, but instead finished second-last

Since the announcement of the departure of TaP from the British Eurovision selection, a reasonable question was raised regarding the method under which BBC will choose its next Eurovision act. The answer is given by the Head of BBC Entertainment who commented that:

It has been really good working with Tap, actually, and using their expertise. We have had two amazing finalists and the British public have gotten behind them. Sam Ryder is a proper superstar now. This years entry has been in the top ten and done really well.

People have talked to me ‘should we do a big show on the BBC, how do we select our next act?’ It is a big thing singing live in those giant arenas, and you do need a really experienced performer who has done arena shows before to do that. I think we will continue going to specialists in the industry to help us pick our act going forward.

Bearing in mind the above, we can assume that BBC will continue to choose its next Eurovision act internally for the 5th time in a row. A national selection is probably not in the plans of BBC as its number-one priority on selecting an artist is experience and expertise.

Mae Muller although being a fan favorite did not come to bookies expectations and finished second-last. She was highly criticized inside the UK for her weak performance and vocals and probably her low placement raised doubts on which should the British contestants’ standards be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJEE2ryCRQ

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all Eurovision news!