The BBC, the British national broadcaster has opened the submission period for artists and composers to send in their entries in their quest to represent the United Kingdom at the forthcoming 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

The BBC has opened the public song submissions process to find the UK’s entry for the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal.

Very much like last year, all public entries will be carefully considered and shortlisted by a representative panel of official UK Eurovision Fan Club (OGAE UK) members. At the same time, entries are also being sought from leading professional songwriters, with guidance from Record Industry Executive and Music Consultant for the BBC, Hugh Goldsmith.

Hugh Goldsmith says:

The ESC in Lisbon 2018 promises to be yet another fantastic show and I’m determined that we, the UK, are able to build on our excellent showing of 2017 thanks to Lucie Jones’ superlative performance of the powerful ballad, Never Give Up On You. To this end I am, again, looking for songs with emotive lyrics, memorable melodies and brilliant productions. However, success at Eurovision can also be about originality and the element of surprise. So, please also send us your songs if they are creatively fresh, brave and a little bit different!

Guy Freeman, Editor, BBC Special Events and Formats says:

For anyone out there who thinks they have a brilliant song that can resonate with millions of people around the world and the 2018 jurors this is your chance and we’d love to hear from you.

A final shortlist of songs, from either route of entry, will again be showcased to TV viewers, who will have the chance to vote for their favourite in Eurovision: You Decide, details of which will be announced later in the year.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 27 October 2017,

How to submit your entry?

• If you would like to submit an entry, it must adhere to the EBU competition rules
• The song must not exceed 3 minute duration
• All vocals must be performed live
• No more than 6 people can take part in the performance
• The song must not have been publicly released before 1st September 2017
• It should not have been performed in public or officially published on any media including but not limited to radio, TV and the Internet
• The song cannot be a cover or sample another artist’s work
• The song must be original with regards to songwriting and musical instrumentation
• Each singer/s must be 18 years old on or before 1st January 2018
• Composers and song writers may only submit one entry
• The closing date for entries is Friday 27 October 2017
• The BBC reserves the right to use a performer of its choice for any song submitted for consideration. Employees of the BBC and EBU or their close relatives or anyone connected with the contest are not eligible to enter
• The right is reserved to cancel the contest at any stage or amend any of the terms or details if necessary
• The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any failure in the postal system, any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in an entry not properly registered
• These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales

If you would like to represent the UK at the forthcoming 2018 Eurovision Song Contest , you can email the title of your song, the name of your artist(s) and the name of your composer(s) to the following email address:

• [email protected]

The UK will once again select its Eurovision act and entry via a televised national final. The BBC will disclose more details regarding its Eurovision 2018 project in due course.

The UK in Eurovision

The United Kingdom debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and has won the event a total of 5 times (1967, 1969, 1976,1981 and 1997).

The UK also holds the record of being the country with the most 2nd places in the contest , achieving the runner up position a total of 15 times. We must not forget that the United Kingdom also holds the record of hosting the contest a total of 8 times: London 1960, 1963, 1968, 1977, Edinburgh 1972, Brighton 1974, Harrogate 1982 and Birmingham 1998.

The UK has only missed one contest since their debut in 1957, notably the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. The Brits have been competing in Europe’s favourite television show religiously every year since 1959.

In 2017, Lucie Jones flew to Kyiv in order to defend the British colours at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 8, 10 and 12 May at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal.