It’s the much maligned British broadcaster, which this year managed to turn around a duo of disappointments in 2015 and 2016, cracking the 100-point mark and landing in the Top 15 with Lucie Jones. 

And now the BBC, which first entered Eurovision in 1957 and has competed every year since 1959, has an offer of support from Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw.

Speaking to Swedish outlet AftonbladetMåns lifted the lid on his discussions with the British team for Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon.

“It would be fun to do something now that I’m in London, play a little part in their selection and see if I can help them in any way.”

Since January Måns has lived just outside of London, where he’s recording music and enjoying a relationship with a British actress Ciara Janson, who is best-known for her work on the soap opera Hollyoaks.

Before he turns his attention to the next Eurovision season and the UK’s selection, Zelmerlöw’s attention is fixed on his summer tour schedule.

In previous years he’s toured Sweden extensively in the summer months, but this year he’s scaling it back in favour of a European tour to see international fans.

“We’re only doing six gigs in Sweden this year and then in the fall the aim would be to do a smaller club tour, hopefully in Poland and the UK.”

International success isn’t elusive for the 30-year-old. “Hanging On To Nothing” has been playlisted by BBC Radio 2 in the UK, “Glorious” is scaling the charts in Poland, a French version of “Hanging On To Nothing” is scaling the charts in France and the French version of “Should’ve Gone Home” is still in the airplay Top 20 there too.

He also revealed that in the likely event of a seventh Swedish victory, he would host the contest again, if Petra Mede returned alongside him and Edward af Sillén returned to write the script.

Måns isn’t the first Swede linked with helping improve the United Kingdom’s approach to Eurovision. Back in 2013, Melfest star and host Sarah Dawn Finer, whose father is British, said she’d love to write a song for the selection or sing for the UK.

Would you like to see Måns help the UK selection in 2018? Let us know in the comments below!

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Joey Varden
Joey Varden
6 years ago

Let Måns and Volodymyr Ostapchuk help with the selection.

$5 logos
6 years ago

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6 years ago

i am so hoping any people from the BBC see this, we need a proper national final, where countries from Europe can vote for their favourite song from the UK, we need jury and tele votes of the uk entrants like Eurovision, that’s why the BBC should see this. please take it seriously Uk, we can do a hell of a lot better next year.
come on don’t let us down

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6 years ago

Come on UK please please take Eurovision seriously and scrap you decide process, and start doing a proper national final process, and get top song writers. the UK can do better if they take it seriously.
Mans is so welcome next year

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6 years ago

I am so for this happening, if the BBC see this, please can we get the best writers across Europe, and Swedish winners who can guide the UK, In the right path. Swedish national finals are what Sweden are doing right. and UK need to be more serious know.
this needs to happen, come on BBC bring mans and loreen, and emmelie and all the winners to guide us to victory

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???
6 years ago

I Am all for this please please can this happen, uk make this happen

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

Interesting. Maybe Måns can persuade them to use the MF playbook, and have 2 or 3 rounds full of contenders, to narrow down to 10 for the final. Six is nowhere near enough of a variety for the people to decide.

o.p
o.p
6 years ago

Måns, do a brexit and come home.

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
6 years ago

Lol he considered this year’s italian song for victory while we were saying it’s not and the result proved him wrong now uk can rely on him lol lol if he himself represented uk I wouldn’t be surprised he ends up at the bottom off scoreboard

Chester
6 years ago

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Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
6 years ago

First Emmelie de Forrest writing a song and now Måns wanting to help out with the selection. The future is looking bright for the UK!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Does Britain really need this? What about putting together an all-British team for a modern song? The UK is known fot dropping artists after their debut album and forgetting about them. I bet Diana Vickers, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Louisa Johnson etc are all ready.

AndersP
AndersP
6 years ago

The BBC has a track-record of trying a selection format for two or three years, and if it doesn’t produce a win they scrap it entirely. If they keep going with the You Decide format, use scandi songwriters and talent who are enthusiastic about Eurovision and avoid the inevitable temptation of joke acts to create cheap publicity, then quality British writers will start to dip their toe in eventually, but it may still be another 5 years. The big problem seems to be that nobody senior or influential in the British music industry, either record execs or musicians, or senior… Read more »

Azaad
Azaad
6 years ago

We say we want the biggest UK artists at ESC, but would we really want Adele or Ed Sheeran to steamroll the entire competition? In my opinion, the UK should send quality indie music that charts well in the UK- something like O Wonder or Amber Run in their heyday. The great thing about Children of the Universe was that it felt authentically British.

Swedish involvement isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when the UK has a plethora of songwriting talent, it would be nice to have domestically produced content. I do however 1000% welcome Swedish staging.

Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

I agree, the UK obviously doesn’t needs any help in the creative process of song writing.
What someone like Måns can contribute is perhaps ideas on how to approach Eurovision long term, and how to use the contest as a instrument for nation branding rather than chasing that ‘deserved’ result.
It’s very difficult to come up with a constructive plan when every year is a fight to avoid disaster.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

BBC needs to send something British. Netherlands started sending powerful locally-popular stuff like “Birds” and Country and O’G3NE and they started slaying. Belgium sent Belgian standouts and rose. France sends youthful, modern French stuff, et voila!! So, come on BBC. Whether or not you get help from a recent winner (de Forrest helped this year, still got right-side-of-board) is not as important as sending something Actually Popular in the Actual British Isles with the Actual British Citizenry. Send Zayn. Send Susan Boyle. Go turbo-kitsch and send a Doctor Who novelty act. Whatever. Send something that Actual British Citizens actually love… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

I have been sent a challenge for 2018: Write a song in Welsh. 🙂
I’ll be looking for help for those lyrics. LOL. I’ll keep Wiwi updated. 😀

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
6 years ago

NOBODY told me this man is living in my town?!?!

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Trocatroc

Keeping him all to herself. Clever girl. 😀

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago

Wow Mans will help them ? That’s a good news for the UK. I have high expectations for your entry next year in Lisbon. 🙂

Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

Slightly OT but I think Europe is ready for Gina Dirawi. Smart, beautiful and funny af.
I hope they let her host together with Mede if we are lucky enough to win again in a couple of years. (Which I very much doubt tbh. ^^) They have a similar sense of humor, very ladylike and sarcastic. She’s also second generation which ofc is a point of pride for most Swedes. If I remember correctly I think she was on the shortlist for 2016.

Matty
Matty
6 years ago

The only thing Gina Dirawi is the best is wearing ugly dresses!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Matty

And exaggerated make-up, homegirl looks like she’s ready for a circus number 24/7

AndersP
AndersP
6 years ago

Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god. YAAAAAAS!

Gloria
Gloria
6 years ago

We had a Petra host in 2013, Mans & Petra in 2016, for the potential win in the future a trio should do it (Mans, Petra & Lynda Woodruff with Green Room) 😀

JX
JX
6 years ago
Reply to  Gloria

I don’t think BBC would use that trio!

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago
Reply to  JX

I think they meant if Sweden won again. Then again, with Mans living in the UK and the BBC looking to work with Petra, maybe it’s not completely impossible.

JX
JX
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

ok! Otherwice the trio whould be somting in a start in the first national selection in Australia I think australia are interested in the mellerst concept and have contacted Björkman for help.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Four years of Måns is fine with me!

#ShoutOutToMyEx
#ShoutOutToMyEx
6 years ago

They need something like Belgium. It’s working with them. They need unique and powerful radio friendly hits. But i like this idea.

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago

Belgium’s return to form in recent years is brilliant. Well done to them.

joe
joe
6 years ago

william, remember an old interview you did with kristian kostov , you said there is a surprise if he gets top 5 to do with him and eurovision 2018, what is it

indi
indi
6 years ago
Reply to  joe

I guess is that he will represent Bulgaria again.

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

I would prefer a Petra Mede/Lynda Woodruff hosting team, but hey.. throw Måns in there too and I won’t complain.

Ella
Ella
6 years ago

For the love of God, let Mans help you, BBC!

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Ella

Preach!

Måns for host!
Måns for host!
6 years ago

I would like to have Måns sell me Love as the host for the show!

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

BBC has had many Swedes songs in its NF, even with Molly in 2014 and it’s not working.
Send an amazin Brit Hit and you got it. Like Belgium is doing.

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Getting British songwriters involved is dependent on improved results in the contest. Lucie’s 15th place result should help with recruiting songwriters for next year’s NF, but it’ll take a while to get anywhere near where Belgium’s at.

Kingdom of Hayastan 2019
Kingdom of Hayastan 2019
6 years ago

Sarah Down Finer! Borat’s sister, funny! She really can help and suck BBC as her parents are from counties such as father from London, mother from New York!

Liv
Liv
6 years ago

OH MY GOD YES! I really hope this happens <3

Emma
Emma
6 years ago

Omg, I love Mans!! ????