Media mogul Simon Cowell — the brains behind hit shows including X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent — knows how to spot talent. And now the king of reality singing shows has revaled to the Sunday Mirror that he’d be willing to deploy his magic to help the UK select a winning act for Eurovision.
“It’d be great to get involved,” he said. “I’d love to do it. The only problem is the timing – I wouldn’t want it to compete with Britain’s Got Talent.”
“The idea of taking it on for one year and trying to get someone to represent the UK, someone new – I’d love that. I don’t think there’d be too much to lose. I think it’d be great fun.”
Cowell listened to this year’s competing entries and was not impressed with the UK’s Electro Velvet and their song “Still in Love with You.”
“This year they really weren’t good, they didn’t stand a chance,” he said. “The winner [Mans Zelmerlow] had a proper record, the staging was great.”
Bianca and Alex — the two halves of Electro Velvet — are lovely people and made the most of their time in Vienna. We were touched by Bianca’s personal story and how she looked past her diagnosis of cystic fibrosis to pursue her dreams, ultimately ending up on one of music’s biggest stages. When she slipped into her LED dress, we wanted to shout You glow girl!
But this isn’t a contest for Mr and Miss Congeniality and we are still puzzled how they wound up at Eurovision – and with this song. We can only assume they or their songwriter know someone who knows someone at the BBC. Had the BBC bureaucrats masquerading as music professionals shared this song with someone — anyone — outside of their out-of-touch inner circle, they would have known it was destined for failure. The shadowy BBC selection process simply does not work.
Simon Cowell could breathe some much needed life into Eurovision in the UK and help right the wrongs of the BBC. Whether they’d be willing to swallow their pride and ask for help is another matter entirely. Despite the poor results and the public outcry, complacency reigns. The Beeb still thinks that it knows best.
Simon, please save us!
Common Simon! Bring it on!!!
Love Simon:)
@random.sage2.0: Someone came up with the idea for a MelFest-style contest for the U.K. (which they call the ESC Grand Prix 2016) the sooner Electro Velvet was chosen.
He should be given a shot. He owns a record label so could probably pick one of the people from that who hasn’t had a single in a few years.
“Give him a go…for God’s sake, it can’t get any worse.”
Didn’t a dog just win BGT?
Wow! That would be great.
Yeah !!! I know you can do it Mr.Cowell 😉
It would be GREAT to see Eurovision in London.
Another reason to like Simon
Can we pray and have this done, Lord?
Plus, a Melfest UK wouldn’t be a bad idea. In fact, any Eurosong will do.
@David Thielen: Exactly. But I doubt that Simon is the answer. Not only do you have to choose a contender that (1) the public loves, but you also have to choose one that (2) the public OUTSIDE THE U.K. is most likely to give their 12 points to. While Simon may very well pass on item 1, he is just as likely to fail on item 2, because I don’t think his character will let him abandon the ‘X-Factor’ way of finding a contender suitable for Eurovision.
The only X Factor contestant who’s participated in Eurovision came last, and the majority of X Factor winners have faded into obscurity (has the person who one last year even done anything since?). Simon Cowell only manages a few genuinely successful acts – not exactly the best person to choose the UK’s entry. Simon Fuller is a much better choice – Spice Girls, Will Young, Kelly Clarkson, Annie Lennox, Amy Winehouse, Aloe Blacc, etc. If I were the BBC, I’d get Scott Mills to look for an entry – he knows Eurovision and popular music, which is a good combo… Read more »
Just do a national selection on BBC Three when it goes online, then the audience voting would most probably be young and we’d get the most modern song. Simon would be a good idea, but the BBC would never give into him- shame as he obviously has good connections.
@Hurrizah: LOL
Simon Cowell is sure obnoxious. Sure, let him control the process… so long as we don’t have to see his overly negative commentary on TV.
OMG!!! . Scooch aka, the worst entry in Eurovision history alongside with Latvia 2012. Have people actually voted them? If I were a Brit I would do everything possible not to allow them fly to Germany.Seriously I would bloc their way to airport putting a gun on their heads.
Anyway,you can trust your luck to anyone, UK. Even a five year old child knows better than BBC. What can go wrong? Finish with 0 points? Ha! been there, done that.
I know Eugene, the British public still got a say in 2009 and thankfully ALW came up with a quality song.
Give him a go…for God’s sake, it can’t get any worse.
I don’t trust the masses though. I’d have Cowell come up with a short list of six/eight songs and split the vote 50/50 televote/jury…..jury full of people like GAV FROM ESCTips and Daniel from Sofabet. They know their stuff.
I would actually be FOR him getting the behind the UK effort. Here’s why: 1. He has masterminded some of the biggest stars on the planet. Need I explain who they are. 2. He is one of the most influential Music moguls in the World. 3. His no nonsense approach and drive are what enables him to create global phenomenons. 4. Obviously, Simon Cowell is linked to some of the biggest and best songwriters on Earth. That’s a huge bonus. 5. If he can find a possible future star with a song that is beyond incredible (which he is capable… Read more »
While that’s true Michaël, you’ve forgotten at the fact both Jessica Garlick (3rd in 2002) and Jade Ewen (5th in 2009) were both chosen by the British public.
To all of you asking for a public selection for the UK, remember that the public chose Scooch in 2007…
oh pleaseeee noooooo, I don’t like this man don’t let him go anywhere near eurovision don’t like his cheeky smile, go away simon pleaseeeeee, let other people do the job and earn money you already got enough
Well then the uk sould stop blaming block voting.How did Germany and Austria won?Because their songs worth winning!!
I agree with Farron.I’m from Greece and we hold a national final every year.And the country is currently very poor.Uk can’t do it?The country that gave us Adele, Beatles and many others?They just don’t care!!
To Add –
Greece, a country with a horrifically weak economy, can afford to host a selection. Why can’t the UK? The BBC just doesn’t care anymore.
Plus if standings are to be believed were due a good act.
2009 – great.
2010, year after, terrible.
2011 – great!
2012 – terrible.
2013 – decent enough
2014 – good
2015 – terrrible.
The UK is hopefully due a good act. And no, Simon Cowell shouldn’t. The UK should have an open selection determined using PUBLIC VOTE. I mean we can’t vote for our entry so damned if we expect Europe to
@Max H
Freyah does have a point actually – most of the singers through Cowell’s shows are one hit wonders. There are many exceptions but most are failures. That being said, Cowell would do a much better job than the BBC. He could be the Stefan Raab of the UK.
@Max H
Little Mix have been in the charts about once, One Direction is a “rare stick around” and even they’re horrifically divisive with a decent fanbase and an equally sized base of haters. Olly Murs, well meh.
You’ve listed three examples and how long have his shows been on for? Years and a majority, not all of them, have disappeared. Plus as it’s been said many times, no one with an inch of fame, not even reality show winners, would represent the UK as it’s career suicide.
@Hurrizah wow, u just have the worst sportsmanship going.
Don’t forget that the final of Britain’s Got Talent is tonight, so I suspect this story has been fed to us by Cowell’s PR people to give publicity to that event. As is today’s story that BGT judge Alesha Dixon ‘wants to return to Strictly Come Dancing’. After the bridges she burned with the BBC ?
Large pinches of salt needed, please.
@Freyah
“the acts that come from them rarely stick around ”
Yeah I remember there was this group called 1 Direction everyone said would be big and they turned out a right flop.
Wonder whatever happened to Little Mix, Olly Murs etc. Oh wait they’re topping the charts still!
Nooo, keep on sending robish entries, its good for ur competition. Just keep on giving walkovers.
“Europe hates the UK” even though we have five wins, the record for coming second the most, everyone booed Russia, Cyprus couldn’t be bothered to give maximum points to Greece, everyone blames bloc voting while the UK is only sure to give points to Ireland, Ireland always gives the UK something (with the one exception), Norway has more nul points and if Simon Cowell chose the artist, song, staging etc. The UK could get to the top 10 once more. Have a little faith people for heaven sake.
Tbh, it would be good to get him to try something, even if he is one of the most hated people in Britain, he has still been a part of so many sucess stories from BGT and the X Factor.
The only issue is that he is mainly on ITV programming, and the BBC doesn’t really go that far with ITV, it’s never chosen X Factor singers or anything for ESC, so I’m really doubting he’ll get a chance.
“We can only assume they or their songwriter know someone who knows someone at the BBC.”
He writes production music for a living – the background music that’s played on television shows. Your theory has merit.
I’d actually really love for the BBC to step down and ITV begin to broadcast Eurovision. I don’t see it happening but it’d be a great step forward for the UK.
He has nothing to lose? Europe hates the UK.
I mean the BBC obviously has no clue about what is contemporary music for ESC. So give it a go.
inb4 nil points lmaoooo
Continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results is insanity. Yes the BBC should try this. Maybe even say up front they’ll take the winner of Britain’s Got Talent.
No! No No No No!
Okay, I’m from the UK and yes, our acts are most often terrible. But Simon Cowell may have all these reality shows, but the acts that come from them rarely stick around and people forget about them. They’re also very often worse than what we normally send.
If the BBC wanted to be serious which they don’t, they’d put together a selection similar to Melodiefestivalen or Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. But they have as much chance of doing so as the Czech Republic in 2009 had in beating Rybak and winning – None whatsoever.
I don’t care who’s in charge of our act as long as its good. Simon Cowell knows how to find a great act but Simon works with ITV sadly so the BBC would never let him be in charge. I’m actually against a national final here because we have sent some stupid acts (Jemini, Daz Sampson , Scooch). The BBC thinks it knows what’s best for Eurovision but theyre stuck in the past. Melodifestivalen works in Sweden because interest is high there – here in the UK Eurovision is no longer as popular. Most people in my school don’t even… Read more »
It;s not rocket science- choose a good singer with a good song- doesn’t need to go through a selection process- can be chosen by any means as long as it is a good song!
It would be great! Simon Cowell for gods sake. HE is famous. He MAKES artists. All this fame and hype will generate so much publicity for the winner and they can only by default do well.
But alas, BBC.
I think that if Simon Cowell was in charge of Eurovision entry next year, he wouldn’t be able to run a Melodifestivalen-like show. Although he would know how to run a show, he has already got a lot on his plate. As he said, the broadcast of the programme could conflict with Britain’s Got Talent.
Having said that, I am sure that he could come up with a good quality entry through internal selection. In fact I am really hoping he does take Eurovision on because he knows how to deliver a victory for the UK.
@Fikri I’d love that, but the BBC are way too cheap to host an extravaganza like Melfest. The UK audience are not serious enough to give it good viewing figures and make the BBC money.
As we Brits know, Simon is great at spotting talent, which we have seen on the X Factor from when he has helped form groups such as One Direction – He knows the business and I have trust in him that he would know what is right for Eurovision. Simon, please be our saviour!
Never gonna happen until BBC tone down. He’s the literal worst enemy of the BBC. So until we get another nil points they sadly won’t even consider him.
it’s not rocket science people, just produce melodifestivalen in your country and abracadabra…. victory!