United Kingdom: BBC confirms participation in Eurovision 2019

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani 1,885 views

The British national broadcaster, BBC, has confirmed that the United Kingdom will compete at the forthcoming 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.

Europe hold your horses as the United Kingdom are heading to Eurovision 2019! Thus the UK joins the list of countries who have confirmed their participation at the upcoming Eurovision in Israel.

The UK will once again select its Eurovision act and entry via a televised national final Eurovision: You Decide. The show will be aired live on BBC Two.

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals will be broadcast live on BBC Four on 14 and 16 May respectively, whilst the Grand Final will be aired on BBC One on 18 May.

BBC opens submission window for Eurovision 2019

The BBC has opened the submission window for composers/artists to submit their entries. The deadline for submission has been set on 26 October 2018.

The British national final will be broadcast on BBC Two, more details and information on the show will be released in due course.

As was the case last year a special panel consisting of OGAE UK members will be responsible to consider and shortlist all the public submitted entries. Simultaneously the BBC is also looking for entries from leading professional songwriters, with guidance from songwriter, publisher and new Music Consultant for the BBC, Greig Watts.

A yet to be confirmed number of shortlisted songs from either route of submission will be presented to the British public during a live television show, enabling them to vote for their favourite entry.

Mr. Greig Watts (BBC Music Consulant) says:

The Eurovision Song Contest just gets bigger and better and more exciting for me each year, and I’m sure Israel will deliver another amazing contest. I’m so happy to be involved this year for the UK; it really is a dream come true, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to get the strongest possible song and result we can for the UK, like we do on the world music stage. There’s no guaranteed song-writing formula for Eurovision as each year something different wins. I’m looking for melodic songs with impact for the arena as well as on TV. Songs that instantly hit you and never leave your brain.

Ms. Kate Philips (BBC Entertainment Comissioning Controller) says:

I’m delighted that You Decide will be returning to BBC Two as the UK’s song search for Eurovision 2019 begins. We want to ensure that we cast the net far and wide to find the best entry possible, so we are really keen to hear from anyone who feels they have a song that has what it takes to do our country proud and bring Eurovision home.

 

The United Kingdom in Eurovision

The United Kingdom debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and has won the competition five times (1967, 1969, 1975, 1981, 199). The country has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 61 times and has enjoyed great succes in Europe’s favorite television show. The UK hold the record of being the country who has placed 2nd the most times in the competition, namely 15 times.

Many big names have flown the British flag at the Eurovision Song Contest: Sandie Shaw, Olivia Newton John, Lulu, Buckz Fizz, Brotherhod of Man, Cliff Richard, Clodagh Rogers, Mary Hopkin, Michael Ball, Sonia, Gina G, Bonny Tyler etc.

In 2018 the United Kingdom selected its Eurvovision act and entry via a national final. SuRie was crowned the winner of the British national final and won the golden ticket to Lisbon with her entry Storm.