United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Country|  United Kingdom
National selection
Selection process| Internal selection
Selection date(s)|

* Artist: 16 December 2023
* Song: 1 March 2024

Selected entrant| Olly Alexander
Selected song| "Dizzy"
Selected songwriter(s)|

* Oliver Alexander Thornton
* Daniel Harle

United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
| ◄2023 • | 2024 |

|
|

The United Kingdom is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. The British broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), internally selected Olly Alexander as the country's entrant for the 2024 contest with the song "Dizzy".

As a member of the "Big Five", the United Kingdom automatically qualifies to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

## Background[edit]

Main article: United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2024 contest, the United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty-five times since its first entry in 1957.[1] Thus far, the United Kingdom has won the contest five times: in 1967 with the song "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw, in 1969 with the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, in 1976 with "Save Your Kisses for Me" performed by Brotherhood of Man, in 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz and in 1997 with the song "Love Shine a Light" performed by Katrina and the Waves.[2] After its latest win, the United Kingdom has failed to be consistently successful, only reaching the top ten four times: in 1998, 2002, 2009, and 2022; and ending last five times: in 2003 (the first time in the country's history in the contest), 2008, 2010, 2019, and 2021.[3] In 2023, the United Kingdom was represented by Mae Muller with "I Wrote a Song", which finished in 25th place.[1] The United Kingdom is the country that has hosted the contest the most times, with nine in total (in 1960, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1998, and 2023).

The British national broadcaster, the BBC, broadcasts the event within the United Kingdom and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The BBC has used various methods to select its entry: From 1957 to 2010, it organised a national final which featured a competition among several artists and songs to choose the British entry for the contest. Between 2011 and 2015, the BBC opted to internally select the British entry.[4] For its 2016 entry, the broadcaster announced that a national final would be organised again.[5] The same process was used in 2017 and 2018, and changes were brought in for 2019. From 2020, the BBC opted to return to an internal selection.[6]

## Before Eurovision[edit]

Olly Alexander (pictured in 2019) was internally selected by the BBC to represent the UK.

### Internal selection[edit]

On 1 August 2023, TaP Music, the label with which the BBC had collaborated to internally select the British act in 2022 and 2023, announced that it had terminated their partnership with the broadcaster.[7] On 24 August, the head of entertainment at BBC, Kalpna Patel-Knight,[8] commented on the news, indicating that the broadcaster's intention was to look for another specialist team for 2024.[9]

On 17 October 2023, the BBC revealed that executive producer Lee Smithurst and Will Wilkin, commissioning executive at BBC Music, had led the search for both the 2024 act and song during the summer.[10][11] By October, Olly Alexander was selected, which the artist himself announced during the final of the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing on 16 December.[12] His song for the contest, titled "Dizzy" and co-written with Danny L Harle, was released on 1 March 2024.[13] Later that evening, Alexander appeared on a special broadcast on BBC One, titled Graham Meets Olly, where he was interviewed by Graham Norton, followed by the first full televised broadcast of the song's music video.[14]

### Preparation and promotion[edit]

On 16 February 2024, Alexander travelled to Tbilisi, where he met with Georgian representative Nutsa Buzaladze before filming the music video for "Dizzy" in the country.[15]

Following the release of "Dizzy", Alexander made appearances on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, where the song received its radio premiere on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball.[16][17] Alexander performed "Dizzy" live on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on 9 March 2024, as part of the show's End Of The Show Show segment. The day prior to this performance, 8 March 2024, Alexander performed "Dizzy" for Vevo's Live from Vevo Studio series.[18]

As part of the promotion of his participation in the contest, Alexander confirmed his presence as the headline act at the London Eurovision Party on 7 April 2024, as well as at the PrePartyES in Madrid on 30 March 2024, the Eurovision in Concert event in Amsterdam on 13 April 2024, and the Nordic Eurovision Party in Stockholm on 14 April 2024.[19]

### Controversy[edit]

See also: Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 § Calls for exclusion

After his reveal as the British entrant for the contest, it emerged that in October, Alexander had signed a letter by LGBT association Voices4London which accused Israel - one of the participating countries - of committing apartheid against Palestinians and "Zionist propaganda" of pinkwashing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.[20] The Israeli embassy in London, as well as spokespeople of the Israeli government in the UK, criticised Alexander's views as "biased" and the BBC for "sending an entrant to Eurovision who espouses [...] partial views of Israel and promotes [...] dehumanising language of Israelis".[21][22] The BBC commented that it was not in a position to cut ties with someone who is not a journalist over their personal use of social media, thereby confirming Alexander as the 2024 UK representative.[23] The incident occurred in the backdrop of the Israel–Hamas war, which has led to calls for Israel to be excluded from the contest.

## At Eurovision[edit]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden. It will consist of two semi-finals held on 7 and 9 May, respectively, and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. As a member of the "Big Five", the United Kingdom automatically qualifies to compete in the final on 11 May 2024. In addition to its participation in the final, the United Kingdom is also required to broadcast and vote in one of the two semi-finals. This was decided via a draw held during the semi-final allocation draw on 30 January 2024, when it was announced that the United Kingdom would be voting in the first semi-final.[24][25] For the first time for a contest held outside of the United Kingdom, the BBC made the draw available on its online platform BBC iPlayer.[26] Despite being an automatic qualifier for the final, the British entry will also be performed during the semi-final.[27]

In the United Kingdom, all three shows of the contest will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer,[11][28] with Graham Norton providing commentary for the final.[29] In addition, as part of the Eurovision programming, the BBC cooperated with DR and SVT alongside other EBU member broadcasters - namely ARD/WDR, ČT, ERR, France Télévisions, NRK, NTR, RÚV, VRT and Yle - to produce and air a documentary titled ABBA - Against the Odds, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Sweden's first victory at the contest with "Waterloo" by ABBA.[30][31]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "United Kingdom". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
2. ^ Eames, Tom (11 May 2023). "UK at Eurovision: Who has won the Song Contest for the UK and when have they finished last?". Smooth. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
3. ^ "United Kingdom in Eurovision Voting & Points". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
4. ^ Adams, William Lee (16 May 2011). "Eurovision 2011: Have Jedward and Blue Made the World's Biggest Song Contest Cool Again?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
5. ^ "Public to help choose UK Eurovision entry". BBC News Online. BBC. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
6. ^ "BBC drops Eurovision selection public vote". BBC News Online. BBC. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
7. ^ Stephenson, James (1 August 2023). "United Kingdom: TaP Music Ends Eurovision Partnership with BBC". Eurovoix. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
8. ^ "Kalpna Patel-Knight appointed in new Head of Entertainment commissioning role". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
9. ^ SuperTV [@superTV247] (24 August 2023). "The head of BBC entertainment also commented on selecting a #Eurovision artist for 2024, following the departure of TaP […]" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2023 - via Twitter. "I think we will continue going to specialists in the industry to help us pick our act going forward."
10. ^ Adams, William Lee (18 October 2023). "United Kingdom: BBC confirms Eurovision 2024 participation...and says artist search took place 'over the summer'". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
11. ^ a b "United Kingdom participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is confirmed plus all three live shows will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer". bbc.co.uk (Press release). BBC. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
12. ^ Savage, Mark (17 December 2023). "Olly Alexander says it will be 'a wild ride' and confirms song is 'not a ballad'". BBC News Online. BBC. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
13. ^ Griffiths, George (6 February 2024). "Olly Alexander reveals name and release date of UK Eurovision 2024 entry". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
14. ^ "Graham Meets Olly". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
15. ^ Shalikashvili, Mariam (16 February 2024). ევროვიზიის ბრიტანელი მონაწილე კლიპს საქართველოში გადაიღებს [The British Eurovision participant will shoot the clip in Georgia]. 1TV (in Georgian). GPB. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
16. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (28 February 2024). "United Kingdom: Olly Alexander to Release 'Dizzy' at Midnight on March 1". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
17. ^ Savage, Mark (1 March 2024). "Eurovision 2024: Will Olly Alexander's Dizzy put the contest in a spin?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
18. ^ Granger, Anthony (8 March 2024). "United Kingdom: First Live Performance of Olly Alexander's 'Dizzy'". Eurovoix. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
19. ^ Granger, Anthony (11 March 2024). "United Kingdom: Olly Alexander Announces Four Date Pre-Party Tour". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
20. ^ Penna, Dominic (20 December 2023). "BBC urged to sack Eurovision entrant who called Israel an 'apartheid state'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
21. ^ Kanter, Jake (21 December 2023). "BBC Urged To Fire UK Eurovision Entrant Olly Alexander After He Signed Letter Accusing 'Apartheid' State Israel Of Genocide". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
22. ^ Goodman, Naria (23 December 2023). "בריטניה: שגרירות ישראל יוצאת נגד השתתפות הנציג הבריטי - אירוויזיון 2024" [Great Britain: The Israeli embassy opposes the participation of the British representative]. EuroMix (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
23. ^ Penna, Dominic (22 December 2023). "BBC will not stop Eurovision contestant expressing his political views". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
24. ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
25. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
26. ^ Granger, Anthony (21 January 2023). "United Kingdom: The Draw to be Available on BBC iPlayer". Eurovoix. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
27. ^ "Major changes for Malmö: Big Five & Sweden perform LIVE in Semi-Finals and you can vote for longer". Eurovision.tv. EBU. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
28. ^ Heap, Steven (27 August 2023). "United Kingdom: BBC Confirms Semi Finals Will Stay on BBC One in 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
29. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (15 February 2024). "United Kingdom: Olly Alexander to Feature on The Graham Norton Show on March 1". Eurovoix. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
30. ^ "BBC One and iPlayer commission feature documentary ABBA: Against The Odds to celebrate 50 years since ABBA's Eurovision win". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
31. ^ "Record number of EBU Members unite for new ABBA documentary". ebu.ch. EBU. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.

## External links[edit]

* BBC's official Eurovision website

* v
* t
* e

United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

* Discography
* National selection (Contestants)

Participation|

* 1957
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Artists|

* Andy Abraham
* Olly Alexander
* The Allisons
* Michael Ball
* Bardo
* Belle and the Devotions
* Black Lace
* Blue
* Patricia Bredin
* Brotherhood of Man
* Bucks Fizz
* Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
* Ronnie Carroll
* Co-Co
* Josh Dubovie
* Electro Velvet
* Emma
* Jade Ewen
* Scott Fitzgerald
* James Fox
* Nicki French
* Jessica Garlick
* Gina G
* Mary Hopkin
* Engelbert Humperdinck
* Imaani
* Samantha Janus
* Javine
* Jemini
* Joe and Jake
* Bryan Johnson
* Lucie Jones
* Katrina and the Waves
* Kathy Kirby
* Lindsay
* Live Report
* Love City Groove
* Lulu
* Kenneth McKellar
* Molly
* Matt Monro
* Mike Moran
* Mae Muller
* The New Seekers
* James Newman
* Olivia Newton-John
* Lynsey de Paul
* Precious
* Prima Donna
* Michael Rice
* Cliff Richard
* Rikki
* Clodagh Rodgers
* Frances Ruffelle
* Ryder
* Sam Ryder
* Daz Sampson
* Scooch
* The Shadows
* Sandie Shaw
* Sonia
* SuRie
* Sweet Dreams
* Bonnie Tyler
* Vikki

Songs|

* "All"
* "Are You Sure?"
* "The Bad Old Days"
* "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
* "Believe in Me"
* "Better the Devil You Know"
* "Bigger than Us"
* "Boom Bang-a-Bang"
* "Children of the Universe"
* "Come Back"
* "Congratulations"
* "Cry Baby"
* "Dizzy"
* "Don't Play That Song Again"
* "Embers"
* "Even If"
* "Flying the Flag (For You)"
* "Give a Little Love Back to the World"
* "Go"
* "Hold On to Our Love"
* "I Belong"
* "I Can"
* "I Love the Little Things"
* "I Wrote a Song"
* "I'm Never Giving Up"
* "It's My Time"
* "Jack in the Box"
* "Knock, Knock Who's There?"
* "Let Me Be the One"
* "Long Live Love"
* "Looking High, High, High"
* "Love City Groove"
* "Love Enough for Two"
* "Love Games"
* "Love Is..."
* "Love Shine a Light"
* "Love Will Set You Free"
* "Making Your Mind Up"
* "A Man Without Love"
* "Mary Ann"
* "A Message to Your Heart"
* ~~"My Last Breath"~~
* "Never Give Up on You"
* "No Dream Impossible"
* "One Step Further"
* "One Step Out of Time"
* "Only the Light"
* "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"
* "Power to All Our Friends"
* "Puppet on a String"
* "Ring-A-Ding Girl"
* "Rock Bottom"
* "Runner in the Night"
* "Save Your Kisses for Me"
* "Say It Again"
* "Say Wonderful Things"
* "Sing, Little Birdie"
* "Space Man"
* "Still in Love with You"
* "Storm"
* "Teenage Life"
* "That Sounds Good to Me"
* "Touch My Fire"
* "We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)"
* "Where Are You?"
* "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"
* "You're Not Alone"

* Note: Entries scored out signify where the United Kingdom did not compete

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Countries|

| Final|

* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Spain
* Sweden
* United Kingdom

|

Semi-final 1|

* Australia
* Azerbaijan
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Finland
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Moldova
* Poland
* Portugal
* Serbia
* Slovenia
* Ukraine

Semi-final 2|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Belgium
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Georgia
* Greece
* Israel
* Latvia
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Norway
* San Marino
* Switzerland

Artists|

| Final|

* Olly Alexander
* Isaak
* Angelina Mango
* Marcus & Martinus
* Nebulossa
* Slimane

|

Semi-final 1|

* Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil
* Baby Lasagna
* Bambie Thug
* Natalia Barbu
* Silvester Belt
* Teya Dora
* Electric Fields
* Fahree feat. Ilkin Dovlatov
* Hera Björk
* Silia Kapsis
* Iolanda
* Luna
* Raiven
* Tali
* Windows95man

Semi-final 2|

* 5miinust and Puuluup
* Aiko
* Besa
* Sarah Bonnici
* Nutsa Buzaladze
* Dons
* Gåte
* Eden Golan
* Kaleen
* Joost Klein
* Ladaniva
* Megara
* Mustii
* Nemo
* Saba
* Marina Satti

Songs|

| Final|

* "Always on the Run"
* "Dizzy"
* "La noia"
* "Mon amour"
* "Unforgettable"
* "Zorra"

|

Semi-final 1|

* "Doomsday Blue"
* "Fighter"
* "Grito"
* "In the Middle"
* "Liar"
* "Luktelk"
* "No Rules!"
* "One Milkali (One Blood)"
* "Özünlə apar"
* "Ramonda"
* "Rim Tim Tagi Dim"
* "Scared of Heights"
* "Teresa & Maria"
* "The Tower"
* "Veronika"

Semi-final 2|

* "11:11"
* "Before the Party's Over"
* "The Code"
* "Europapa"
* "Firefighter"
* "Hollow"
* "Hurricane"
* "Jako"
* "Loop"
* "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi"
* "Pedestal"
* "Sand"
* "Titan"
* "Ulveham"
* "We Will Rave"
* "Zari"

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