Can the United Kingdom leave behind its recent poor Eurovision fortunes and make the difference in 2019? We will know next May! As for now, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has revealed details regarding their national selection event Eurovision: You Decide, which will be returning for yet another year.

According to the broadcaster’s press release, the annual event which has determined most of the United Kingdom’s Eurovision entries, is all set to be held again in February, this time in the city of Salford, located in the North West of England. This will be the very first time for Salford to become home to the show.

Mel Giedroyc and Måns Zelmerlöw back as hosts; format refreshed

2019 doesn’t see any changes in the show’s presenters. The television host and actress Mel Giedroyc, as well as the 2015 Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw will again take over hosting duties, following their successful course at the 2018 edition.

However, the show is going to take place with several remarkable changes in its format, under of which the UK’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will be crowned. Hundreds of tracks were submitted to the BBC, but only 3 of them will be reaching the live show, all selected by an international jury. Each song will be performed by 2 competing artists, in a completely different musical style.

Τhrough this effort to match the right song with the right artist, a total of 6 acts will fight for the coveted Eurovision ticket to Tel Aviv and the United Kingdom’s representation. BBC is expected to disclose more details regarding the candidate entries and artists in the weeks to come.

Those in charge for the show’s production have proceeded to the following statements:

Mel Balac, Creative Director for Entertainment BBC Studios and Executive Producer of Eurovision: You Decide says:

This year the three songs presented to the United Kingdom have been selected with the help of an international jury. Our exciting “euro-version” format will give fans the chance to compare and contrast these fantastic songs in a fresh, new way and deliver the United Kingdom the artist it deserves to fly the flag out in Tel Aviv in May.

While Kate Phillips, who is the Controller of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC completes, stressing that the forthcoming exit of the country from the European Union is not related to the UK’s interest in Eurovision:

Forget about a sing-off, next year it’s all about the song-off as we once again try to marry a great singer with a great song, one which could finally get us on the left hand side of the leader board. We may be leaving the EU but we are still determined to win Eurovision again one day!

The show will air live on BBC Two. A few hours before Eurovision: You Decide, BBC Radio 2‘s radio producer Ken Bruce, will broadcast his morning show from the host city Salford, where he will be discussing with all six contestants, as well as the two hosts.

United Kingdom at Eurovision 2018

The United Kingdom made its 61st Eurovision appearance in Lisbon, Portugal and was represented by the winner of their national selection format Eurovision: You Decide, artist SuRie, who was victorious among 6 contestants.

As part of the Big 5, the United Kingdom didn’t have to qualify from the semi-finals. SuRie’s performance at the grand final was meant to be featured by the violent stage invasion of a viewer, who grabbed her microphone and was shouting for about 10 seconds. SuRie and the country’s delegation were offered to perform their entry once again, but they finally declined, as they said they were “proud of their performance”. Eventually, the United Kingdom finished 24th with a total of 48 points.

Here’s SuRie’s appearance at the final jury rehearsal, one day before Lisbon’s grand final:

The 64th Eurovision Song Contest will be taking place on 14, 16 and 18 May at the EXPO Convention Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.