In exactly one month’s time we will know the United Kingdom’s representative for Eurovision 2018.
On Wednesday 7 February, six acts will take to the Brighton Dome stage as part of Eurovision You Decide, the BBC’s selection show. And while the date is growing ever close, fans are still in the dark as to who the six hopefuls will be.
Or are they? On Sunday, a Digital Spy forum user called jtaylor “leaked” some potentially exciting news.
“I have been given details from a very very reliable source that these are the 6 acts competing in the UK national selection with the titles of songs”, he or she writes. “Legends is seen as the most likely winner and note the BBC seem to have gone almost nobodies this year”.
The unidentified leaker then proceeds to name the six competitors and their songs.
- Max Murphy – Legends
- Kelsey-Beth Crossley – Home
- Joe Astley – Rivers
- Judyshouse – Want you back
- Anna Pancaldi – Inferno
- Lucie Barat – Swimming
Of course, the entire list is completely unverified. Neither the BBC nor any of the artists have commented publicly on the matter. And similar “leaks” have proven to be completely false in the past, such as this one from Ireland in 2015. Cheeky jtaylor acknowledges as much upon signing off, “Could be a load of garbage but first I’ve heard and thought I’d share!”.
Nevertheless, everyone loves a bit of speculation. So here’s a quick overview of the alleged six acts.
Max Murphy “Legends”
Max Murphy is an indie rocker based in Glasgow, Scotland. His biggest claim to fame thus far is competing on series three of The Voice UK in 2014. After impressing with an acoustic version of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” for his blind audition, he joined Ricky Wilson’s team. However, he failed to make the live shows, with the Kaiser Chiefs front man dropping him during the knockout round. Since then, Max has uploaded a mixture of covers and original songs to his YouTube channel. He recently tweeted footage of gigs in Glasgow’s Hard Rock Café and a Christmas market.
Kelsey-Beth Crossley “Home”
Kelsey-Beth Crossley is best known for playing Scarlett Nicholls in the popular soap opera Emmerdale. After more than five years in the role, Kelsey made her last appearance in 2012. Like Max, she also competed in the 2014 edition of The Voice. Both Ricky Wilson and Kylie Minogue turned their seats for her blind audition. She ultimately joined Ricky’s team, but was eliminated at the battles stage. As of autumn 2017 she was part of the cast of Mad On Her — an eighties jukebox musical.
Joe Astley “Rivers”
Joe Astley is a rock ‘n’ roll singer from Wigan in the north west of England. He currently performs with The Back Pages. According to their official Facebook page, they bring “a fresh, new edge to music; their four part harmonies and unique stage presence has gained attention all over the North-West”. He’s previously run open mic nights and demonstrated keyboards on YouTube.
Judyshouse “Want You Back”
Judyshouse was a jazz/neo-soul band founded by singer Laura Mvula in 2008. She sang lead vocals and wrote the group’s original material. However, all of Judyshouse’s social media profiles have been dormant since 2013, the year Laura’s solo career first began to take off. She has gone on to enjoy much critical and commercial success with hits such as “Green Garden” and “Ready Or Not”. The alleged leak fails to specify whether she would be involved in the Eurovision bid or not.
Anna Pancaldi “Inferno”
Anna Pancaldi is a singer-songwriter from Essex. On her official website, she lists Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley and Carol King as influences. She’s been featured on BBC Radio while her music was used in an advert for Levi’s. She’s a regular on the British festival circuit and has performed at Glastonbury. Sweet Charity, Anna’s third EP, was released in 2017.
Lucie Barât “Swimming”
Lucie Barât is the sister of well-known rocker Carl Barât (The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things). Initially an actress, Lucie turned to singing in the mid noughties. In 2005 she formed the The Fay Wrays with Alice Temple. She released her debut solo single “Take Me Away” in 2017.
Aside from naming the six supposed acts, jtaylor also suggests that One Direction’s Liam Payne will provide the interval entertainment.
What do you think of this leak? Could these really be the Eurovision Decide acts? Would you like to see any of them in Lisbon? Let us know in the comments below.
If this was correct, then my vote would be going to Anna Pancald or Max Murphy
This seems too goo, too credible musically to be real……sadly. I expect more genric, simple, cheesy “fast food songs”, which was the trend for the UK finals in 2017 and 16. But I would love some indie, rock, neo soul etc
Could be fake, but I see a pretty decent line-up here. They are almost nobodies, but for their music style, most of them sound promising for me. Maybe the chosen songs aren’t a big let down!
“Could be a load of garbage but first I’ve heard and thought I’d share!” … If not even the person leaking this can actually be bothered to give it any kind of credit, why should anyone else?
Where is Hurts? 🙁
Max Murphy! I loved his voice in The Voice UK! I didn’t understand why R.Wilson dropped him, he was amazing! Fingers crossed he will be representative 🙂
Where are Buck’s Fizz with Amen?!! FUMING!!!
Why is everyone dismissing them already? It might not even be true, but if it is people seem to forget this is a SONG contest. It doesn’t matter who you are, but if your song is good you’ll do well, and we don’t know any of the songs. Cascada is one of the most famous acts internationally to take part in Eurovision in the past five years and they did absolutely horrible because their song was horrible.
I feel like the BBC would continue the trend of selecting singing competition acts due to the success(?) of Lucy last year. And didn’t Mans say one of the songs could be a winner?
But hey, it’s interesting to see some rumours about the acts. Really wish the UK would take a hint from France, though…
Didn’t Mans say Svala would be top 5 in Kyiv? Lol
When you’re right 52% of the time, you’re wrong 48% of the time
She should’ve been!!
@Paul, what?? NO WAY!! That wasn’t even a good song and that staging just made everything worse. lol
@ian WAY! it was my favourite entry last year. Criminally underrated! Although I agree the staging let it down
No one cares about rumours. Enough of your “Fake News” wiwibloggs.
I care about rumours.
I also care about rumours.
Mark – Rumours and speculation are part of the build up right? Or do you like a life in black and white. Hardly Fake News standard either – have you seen the real ‘fake’ news going around and what its doing to countries. Id just enjoy getting to know some new artists.
“jtaylor also suggests that One Direction’s Liam Payne will provide the interval entertainment.”
Surely it would be sold out if that were true? :S
Laura Mvula would be amazing, solo or in this group. I doubt it’s gonna happen, thoguh.
I don’t understand why the BBC has not gotten folks from the voice or X factor to partake in Eurovision especially those that were successful and have since been dumped by cowell’s record company. I mean Cheryl Lloyd, 3JL, Leona– I think there would at least be one that would say yes.
In actual fact, they have. Joe & Jake from The Voice, Lucie from X Factor, Andy from X Factor, Jessica Garlick from Pop Idol, James from Fame Academy, Javine from Popstars, etc. – so it has been tried, and found wanting.
Concentrate on the song, that’s the most important thing.
Also, the entirety of last year’s NF acts were from the X Factor.
Alexandra Burke!!
She would be a great choice, actually. If she is prepared to do a reality show like Strictly Come Dancing, what has she really got to lose? She can sing, dance, has stage presence…now all she needs is a killer song, or else even she would flop.
Leona co-wrote a song in 2016, but lost to Joe & Jake.
I think the UK could do something like France are doing, and select acts on the verge of becoming famous (at different levels). The songwriting camp is very important, possibly the most important one.
Aren’t British entries always rumoured about and then nothing about them was true? We should be careful!
If true though, it would be nice but nothing to interesting. I mean Scarlett of Emmerdale? She was cute and all but really?
I predict a bottom 5 finish with any of these acts to be honest!
If they’re including Scarlett from Emmerdale, then I’d like to send a write in vote for Queen of the Jungle Scarlett Moffatt from Gogglebox. Love her.
Or why just settle with one Emmerdale lady? Why not throw in all who are gifted with a singing voice? Some of them have got pipes….
Chas and Ginnie, the singing sisters:)
Speaking of which, Natalie Anderson was pretty good on Your Face Sounds Familiar….
Would be a disappointing list if true. Are we not yet into former X-Factor/Voice WINNER territory? I mean, seriously, “failed to make the live shows”? The rest of Europe would be shaking in their boots…
Talent shows are cruel and unfair. The artists could be talented and have the right song, unfortunately they have the label ”failed to make it to the live shows”. Those talent shows make more harm than good. They need to go away.
Well I googled the first 3 and have given up with no recent material available for at least 3 years on YouTube. In my mind they are not serious contenders. Uk media will surley focus on X Factor ‘Saara of Finland’ who is probably a little more known?
Saraa Aalto is already representing Finland in this year’s festival!
I’ve got some hope. Neo-soul would be a cool and risky direction for the UK to take, albeit not one I’m sure would earn them a lot of points. They seem like a satisfying lineup (if that’s the lineup), if not a roster of potential winners.
Exactly… and the fact that she turned down UK.