Rumour alert. According to the British tabloid the Daily Star, the BBC is considering whether to bring back the UK national final to allow the public to choose the act for Copenhagen next year.
Since 2011, Auntie Beeb has opted for an internal selection process. Blue missed out on the top 10 at 11th in 2011, Engelbert Humperdinck ended up second last at 25th in 2012 and Bonnie Tyler came 19th earlier this year.
A BBC spokeswoman said last night that she could not elaborate on Eurovision plans for next year and it was “still early days”.
Democracy is not always a good thing. Over the past decade the public’s choices for the UK have mostly been atrocious. Choosing the likes of Jemini, Daz Sampson, Scooch and Andy Abraham suggests the British public still see the Euroivision Song Contest as a cheesy, camp freak show.
On the other hand, there have also been rare moments of glory where the public have made the right decision: Jade Ewen, Jessica Garlick and Javine. Yes, despite her Eurovision result, Javine is on that list as the alternative would have involved sending a pregnant Katie Price to Kiev in 2005.
Should the British public decide? Can they be trusted enough? Will the BBC get it right this time next year?
Anthony Ko contributed this report from the U.K. Follow him on Twitter at @bjorneo. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by liking our Facebook page.
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
I wonder what the UK will really do this year, they have to change something? I hear that the UK have approached relatively unknown producer Armand Deluxe to make a song this year… heard some of his music and it’s not bad… very Eurovision! It’s about time they bring back the selection process though, more people would get behind the song I think. Although, being Danish I am happy for a Danish win again! :)))
The easy decision would be – don’t put the cheesy/camp things into a national Final like scooch etc. Keep with singers and talented people who show that this country has an excellent intuition of music and capability to create talented people – showing with our list of historically known music acts.
Make it a contest that we select something good out of something good.
Hi Ewan.
I can understand you’re dismissing this as a non-story. But still, it’s something worth mentioning at Wiwi Bloggs HQ, even if the chances of all this happening are zilch, especially with the BBC set to broadcast the next series of The Voice on January next year.
Of course, the BBC to do tend to leave it late when it comes to Eurovision, so we definitely can’t imagine them working on an October!
No.
Daily Star asks PR person at BBC, PR person at BBC asks the person dealing with Eurovision at the moment. That person says ‘no decision has been made’ ,(come on Strictly, and Children in Need, and The Voice come before ESC plans), PR person does not committal answer. Daily Star writes puff piece, Puff piece gets magnifined into this story.
Move along there is no news one way or the other
Yey @charles is back! Also I hope this is true but Rylan did do a hideously ominous tweet a while back about ‘representing his country’ so I have a terrible fear Auntie Beeb is already doing the rounds for people…
I think I should choose the song. The BBC have been very disappointing in the last few years, even national selections struggle to deliver songs worthy to choose from and the joke song, almost guaranteed will be their will win. I really care about having a good song. I have perception, understanding, a sense of music and what makes good viewing and listening. Of course a little consultation with a few like minded wiwi bloggers should not go amiss… However, I want a dam fine entry for a change, deep, and powerful, a good banging number, some surprising stokes and… Read more »
I love Touch My Fire and Javine was indeed great. Nice to see so much love for it here in the comments, never understood why people were so down on it.
Javine was amazing. She deserved a much better placing.
Charles, It’s the same in France !!! Eurovision is more than cheesy in France !!!!!
“British public still see the Euroivision Song Contest as a cheesy, camp freak show” This is probably a huge truth as old as time. The country that has been responsible for legendary acts like The Beatles, Rolling Stones to current wonders like Adele, has always loved to play the “cheesy” cards when it comes to Eurovision. Great music from the UK rarely has touched the Eurovision camp: during years being in the top 10 or top 5 was at times critical and dissaponting, adding the 15 time where it was runner-up. I remember many critical voices in the early 90s… Read more »
Agree Javine did deserve a better result in 2005 at least a top 10 .. Make the national selection one artist with a number of good songs to choose from.. I think this option would work best with the UK audience .. Otherwise the would select the joke act eg 2007 with scootch was selected over the great cyndi who could have got a good result in Helsinki ..
Pues que tiemble Europa,si este pais pone interes en ganar,lo haran la historia asi lo dice,son los mas y mejores que siempre han competido,mucha suerte
Javine was better than Helena Paparizou #haterscomeatme.
Yep – then they can only blame themselves if the selection doesnt do well.