UK – After yesterday’s premature leak of news, Eurovision TV and the BBC have formally revealed this year’s details of the UK selection process… a national final for the first time in 6 years! 6 finalists, chosen by 3 different routes, will be revealed on Monday 22nd February on the Ken Bruce Radio 2 show between 9.30am and 12.00 noon.
The 6 acts will then take part in a live national final, Eurovision: You Decide, at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on February 26th, to be broadcast on BBC4, and hosted by British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc. Mel was involved with the semi-finals last year. Tickets will be available from 10am (GMT) on Friday 22nd January from the BBC website here.
An expert panel will be on hand to give their views, though no names have been confirmed yet. There will also be guest performances and those guests will also be announced on the Ken Bruce Radio 2 show on Friday 22nd January.
The six shortlisted acts have been chosen from three different routes of entry:
- Public submission
- Submissions to BASCA (the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors)
- British Music Industry consultant Hugh Goldsmith, former MD of RCA and founder of Innocent Records.
The BBC invited the UK branch of the OGAE to assist in the shortlisting of the entries sent in by the public. The OGAE is the largest independent Eurovision fan club in the world and its UK branch has around 1,000 members.
The last time the British public chose, they sent Josh Dubovie… who finished last.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzoYqUPPn88]
The Eurovision Times 
I loved Josh. One of my fave UK songs
BBC4 you’ve got to be kidding, just as we thought the BBC was taking this seriously they bury it away in no mans land.
They give with one hand take with the other.