One of the world’s most pioneering and multi-award winning music superstars, Olly Alexander, will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden in May 2024.
Olly revealed the news during the Grand Final of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 16 December to a delighted studio audience and to the millions of viewers watching at home.
As he embarks on the first release under his own name, Olly Alexander remains one of the world’s most trailblazing modern pop stars. Across three hugely successful albums to date, the singer, actor and fashion icon has scored 2 #1 UK albums, 10 UK Top 40 singles and was recently awarded the BRIT Billion Award (with 6.5 billion streams globally). With Years & Years evolving into a solo project and, in 2024, a brand new solo era, Olly has become a once-in-a-generation voice: the Russell T Davies show ‘It’s A Sin’ won Best New Drama at the National Television Awards, with Olly also nominated for Leading Actor at the 2022 BAFTA Television Awards.
Having headlined arenas and festivals worldwide – not to mention collaborating with the likes of Sir Elton John, Kylie, and Pet Shop Boys – Olly Alexander’s icon-status recently saw him immortalised at Madame Tussauds London: a fitting home for a pop star who has helped change British culture forever, and now represents the UK on the Eurovision stage.
Olly Alexander says: “I’ve loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I’m beyond excited to be taking part next year. As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour. I really can’t believe I’m going to be a part of such a special legacy and fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible, it shall be an honour! I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and it feels like the right moment to start releasing music under my own name. I’m determined to give it everything I’ve got and put on an excellent and unforgettable performance for you all!”
Ben Mortimer, President Polydor Records says: “Polydor, as the British home of ABBA and Loreen, have a deep connection with Sweden and Eurovision. And, we also have a deep connection with the trailblazing, cultural force that is Olly Alexander, who we have worked with for almost ten years. He is quite simply an incredible talent who we are convinced will make a huge impact for the UK in this year’s competition. We are proud to be supporting him in his bid for Eurovision success.”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC says: “To have an artist of Olly Alexander’s calibre representing the UK in Malmö in 2024 is testament to just how much the BBC wants to keep momentum of Eurovision riding high since the UK had the honour of hosting the contest on behalf of Ukraine in Liverpool earlier this year. Olly is the perfect ambassador for the UK as both an immensely talented and world renowned artist and passionate fan of the competition.”
Suzy Lamb, MD of Entertainment & Music at BBC Studios, says: “BBC Studios is so excited to be working with the incredible Olly Alexander to create something very special for the UK at Eurovision. Olly is a world class, charismatic performer and we can’t wait for him to raise the roof at next year’s contest in Sweden.”
All three live Eurovision 2024 programmes – both Semi Finals and the Grand Final – will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024.
Olly’s UK Eurovision song, co-written with Danny L Harle, will be revealed in due course.
The BBC’s Eurovision Song Contest 2024 coverage is a BBC Studios Entertainment production, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producers are Andrew Cartmell and Lee Smithurst. The Creative Director for BBC Studios Entertainment North is Pete Ogden and Suzy Lamb is the Managing Director of Entertainment & Music at BBC Studios. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Katie Taylor.
Source
BBC One
