The UK’s Eurovision entry James Newman was chatting at a press conference on Friday ahead of the highly-anticipated event next week.
The BRIT Award winner, 35, will take to the stage in Rotterdam in The Netherlands on May 22 after the event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
James looked relaxed as he spoke to journalists at the pre-show event in London before flying out to the Dutch city.
Entry: The UK’s Eurovision entry James Newman was chatting at a press conference on Friday ahead of the highly-anticipated event next week
James looked suave in a black leather jacket and black T-shirt which he wore with a gold chain at the press conference.
Back in February it was announced he would return to represent the United Kingdom at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
Due to the cancellation all of last year’s Eurovision acts have been invited to represent their country in this year’s final, which is expected to have social distancing measures and a limited crowd in place.
He’s back: The BRIT Award winner, 35, will take to the stage in Rotterdam in The Netherlands on May 22 after the event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic
James will sing a new song for this year’s Eurovision after being unable to compete last year with the song My Last Breath.
Speaking about his return he said: ‘I’m so excited and honoured to be getting a second chance at representing my country in the Eurovision Song Contest.
‘I haven’t stopped making new music in lockdown and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the song I’m taking to Eurovision in 2021.’
Jo Wallace, Acting Controller Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC, says: ‘We are so pleased to have James back with us and representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2021.
Happy: James looked relaxed as he spoke to journalists at the pre-show event in London before flying out to the Dutch city
Style: James looked suave in a black leather jacket and black T-shirt which he wore with a gold chain at the press conference
‘After 2020 and the postponing of the 65th song contest Eurovision is exactly what everyone needs!’
Mel Balac, Creative Director for BBC Studios, says: ‘James has really embraced being part of the Eurovision family and team ESC UK are delighted that he is getting another shot at Eurovision.’
James won a BRIT Award in 2014 for Best British Single after co-writing Rudimental and Ella Eyre’s Waiting All Night.
Michael Rice represented the UK in 2019, but finished the nation’s poor run of results in the final, finishing in last place with just 11 points after a vote correction.
Great news: Back in February it was announced he would return to represent the United Kingdom at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest
This year’s Eurovision is expected to see many 2020 acts return with new songs to compete, as rules state they cannot return with the same track as last year.
Last year many fans called for Iceland’s viral track Think About Things by Daði og Gagnamagnið to be crowned the winner even before the final had been cancelled.
Bosses opted to replace the competition with a special Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light which showcased the artists due to take part at a sombre time when the continent was gripped by the pandemic.
Contest: Due to the cancellation all of last year’s Eurovision acts have been invited to represent their country in this year’s final, which is expected to have social distancing measures and a limited crowd in place
While Eurovision bosses have confirmed this year’s final will go ahead, it’s expected that social distancing will be included, with plans for a limited audience if Covid cases are low enough.
As one of the Big Five countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy), the United Kingdom does not have to qualify from the semi-final stage of the competition and will gain automatic access to the Saturday Grand Final.
The Netherlands, as the incumbent champion, will also not need to qualify from the semi-final stage and will gain automatic entry to the Grand Final.
The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will air on BBC One on Saturday 22nd May in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The semi-finals will also air on BBC Four on Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th May.
This instead! Bosses opted to replace last year’s competition with a special Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light which showcased the artists due to take part