As exclusively revealed by esctoday.com last month, Andrew Lloyd Webber will compose the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry for the United Kingdom. He will appear before the top Saturday night show, Strictly come dancing tonight to call for singers to enter the show, to be called Your country needs you. It will see six artists make it through to the final stage in a series of weekly shows with an X Factor style knock-out process until the singer is chosen in the final.

Your country needs you is set to follow the successful format used for the BBC1 series How do you solve a problem like Maria, Any dream will do and I'd do anything. In prime time Saturday night shows, six candidates will compete in the weekly elimination contest, with the final contestant ultimately winning the chance to represent the United Kingdom at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow and to perform the song Sir Andrew is writing as the nation's entry.

In a statement made today Lloyd Webber said "In my life I've never shied away from the impossible and this looks like the biggest mission impossible of all time."

The format has become a ratings hit for the BBC in choosing performers for a lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber stage productions, The sound of music, Joseph and the amazing technocolour dreamcoat and Oliver over the last two years. "I am thrilled Andrew will be championing the country's search for a star to storm this year's Eurovision" said BBC One Controller Jay Hunt.

UPDATE

esctoday.com has received additional information for singers looking to enter the show. Submissions will be accepted until 21st November, and singers will need to send in a demo recording. More information will be released in the coming hours.