United Kingdom: Måns Zelmerlöw to join search for next British entrant?

by Jessica Weaver 4,898 views

Yes, it’s only been a matter of days since the winner of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest was crowned in the city of Kyiv, yet plans and preparations for the 2018 contest are already underway in some nations with discussions regarding selections processes for next year’s competition taking place.

Looking ahead to next year’s competition is the British national broadcaster, BBC, who have reportedly been in recent discussion with Sweden’s 2015 Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw about the search for next year’s British representative.

Speaking to Aftonbladet following his commentary stint at the 2017 competition, commentating for the Swedish national broadcaster SVT alongside Edward af Sillén throughout the past Eurovision week, Zelmerlöw spoke of his recent move to London as well as about his talks with the BBC about possible plans for 2018:

I spoke a little with the British producer. It would be fun to do something now while I’m in London. Be involved in their selection and see if we can help them in any way.

Zelmerlöw’s winning performance at Eurovision 2015 with his entry Heroes

BBC’s recent selection change

Over the past 2 years, the BBC has opted to select the British representatives for the Eurovision Song Contest via a national selection process – Eurovision: You Decide – seeing a total of 6 acts competing for the right to represent their nation at the competition each year.

With a panel offering their thoughts and critiques in the 2016 national final, 2017 saw the introduction of a 50/50 combined public and jury vote, with Lucie Jones being selected to represent the UK in the host city of Kyiv.

With her entry Never give up on you, written by Eurovision 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest, Jones finished in 15th position in Saturday’s grand final and received a total of 111 points, one of the country’s most successful results in recent years.

The UK finished in 10th position in the national jury vote with 99 points, whilst the remaining 12 points for the nation were given by the public televote in which the entry ranked in 20th place.

Jones performing at the Eurovision 2017 final last weekend

With the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest only coming to an end this weekend, it’s currently too early to know what the plans for the 2018 competition are. However with discussions underway, is this a sign of what’s the come for next year?