She’s one of Britain’s most prolific reality TV stars. And while she’s done Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Masterchef, Splash! and more, there’s one gap on Gemma Collins’ CV — representing the UK at Eurovision. And now Collins, who first rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex, tells The Sun that she has what it takes to win the contest.
Gemma Collins wants to represent the UK at Eurovision
Collins, who famously refers to herself as “the GC” in the third person, tells the tabloid that she was “absolutely gutted” when James Newman finished last at Eurovision 2021 with nil points. “I would have given him the world”, she says. The TV personality already has an idea for what the BBC can do in 2022: “Next year I think the Eurovision needs the GC”.
“I wouldn’t be doing a cover song either, I’d write my own original song or have someone write one for me”, she continues. “Either way, the UK needs the GC. And I won’t be getting nul points, honey.”
Gemma is already eyeing up potential duet partners. One is comedian Bill Bailey. “I’ve heard Bill Bailey wants to do it, so maybe we could duet.” If that doesn’t work out, she plans to do like San Marino’s Senhit and look Stateside to “tap up Snoop Dogg”.
The 40-year-old has limited music industry experience. Her biggest gig was on a celebrity special of the All Together Now talent show. She finished third. Divina de Campo of Frock Destroyer’s fame was unimpressed. As part of the programme’s 100-person panel, she said “I’ve heard hundreds of drag queens murder this [song], but this is the worst so far”.
Gemma has her own podcast for BBC Sounds, and discusses her Eurovision dreams in the latest episode.
Bill Bailey on Eurovision 2022
As Gemma alluded to, the popular comedian Bill Bailey has also offered his services to the beleaguered Eurovision nation. “I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring for #Eurovision 2022”, he tweeted on the morning after this year’s contest.
Appearing on an episode of Good Morning Britain soon after, he revealed that he had actually submitted a song previously, but it was rejected. “A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a kind of spoof eco anthem in the style of Dad’s Army, and the BBC said it’s too silly, we can’t have that. I just thought, ‘This taking it seriously, that’s not going well either, is it?'”.
He described James Newman’s “Embers” as a “serviceable song and performance”. Before continuing that “I think we’re missing a trick. I think we need to celebrate a bit of eccentricity, the kind of quirkiness and Britishness that doesn’t really seem to be coming across. It’s very well produced and put together, but it’s a bit underwhelming, it’s a bit bland.”
He added that”There’s always something percolating in my mind, a song, a rock song, something that celebrates… maybe we have a giant badger. I don’t know what it is but we’re not taking it seriously enough and taking it too seriously – we’ve got it the wrong way round. We should focus on the performance, on the visuals of it, make it into a huge big celebration of Britishness that sends it up a bit as well. And with some great hooks. Maybe some guitars, maybe some cowbells. There’s not enough car horns in it, I don’t think.”
.@BillBailey for #Eurovision 2022?
'We should focus on the performance of it, with some great hooks.'
Bill tells @susannareid100 and @billtu what he thinks the winning formula of Eurovision is and how the UK can win it! pic.twitter.com/9W7lsd2os5
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 25, 2021
What do you think of the proposals from Gemma and Bill? Would you like to see either of them at Eurovision? Let us know below.
Gem Hun. I won’t allow this. You can sing to a point but you’re lacking the range and experience of performing a song on a big stage. The age of sending joke acts to the ESC has long passed.
Can she not go to ESC, as her vocals aren’t that good at all.
of course the only acts publicly speaking about wanting to represent the UK are drag acts, has-beens and untalented celebrities (like that blonde bimbo who took part in the national final in 2005). No serious acts…
I hope BBC does not fall for a novelty act and just keep looking for a great song performed by a TALENTED artist.
Please no more troll acts representing UK!
I think its quite funny how some people chatting on this thread as if this is a serious proposal. this story has come from Gemma’s mouth and not the BBC, she is merely passing a comment that she would like to do it
We are always claiming that we want other nations to accept that we are treating this contest with respect. To choose anyone like the truly odious GC would be a huge step backwards. This woman will do anything and I mean anything to get noticed. On a slightly different note, but still regarding the UK in Eurovision. Has anyone noticed that there has been a total blanking of the charting songs on the UK radio. We have five stations that get played at work, and not one song has been played, even our song. I get really annoyed when we… Read more »
Well, thanks, but no thanks, Ms. GC. A reality TV star with hardly enough singing experience to even qualify as a rookie is such an uninteresting concept in itself. And judging by that clip of All Together Now, I’m almost certain she’d be way out of her depth at Eurovision.
If the BBC allows this and embrace this idea, please never ever give the blame of the bad results to Brexit. We in europe have moved along, its time you do the same UK.
Surely they wouldn’t if they sent her…
That a realitystar and a comedian wants to represent UK shows just how serious ESC is taken in the UK 🙂
There are three options:
Option 3 please. Years & Years would be great.
I think Years & Years is a genius idea! Olly is a lovely guy who would embrace every aspect of the competition – he would be charming in interviews; he’s down to earth and eccentric enough to grab hearts and attention respectively; he is an authentic musician and would most likely write his own entry which would encompass heartfelt lyrics and emoting if a ballad; he could even bring the camp factor with a bop if he so wishes; and further more, his songs chart in the UK charts. Not to mention, he’s been on the Brits in the last… Read more »
I thought for a while about UK entry I would vote for and I understood that I really want to see something non-england’s from the country on ESC. Nortern Ireland, Scotland, Wells. They can bring diversity with their national languages. And , if UK wants camp-styled entry so much, I’d like to see men in kilts singing something sorta “Party for Everybody” in Scottish with one or two lines in English (or even without them). How do you think: it’s a bad idea?
Yeah if the UK wants to go the camp route men in kilts is the only way to make it seem vaguely competitive. However, given the independent movement in Scotland, I don’t think the BBC would send an entry like that.
I think it would be a good political decision. Like “look UK cares about you”.
Being from Wales myself, it would be lovely to see a song in Welsh at Eurovision – that could possibly have a more traditional/homely vibe do a degree I suppose, and Wales didn’t do too bad in Eurovision Choir… Having said that, Wales is KNOWN for their great choirs so I’m not sure if that would be akin to the regular contest.
Maybe once the UK earns the respect of the other countries though, after proving they are taking it seriously, a song in one of the gaelic/celtic languages would be a more welcomed addition.
Gaelic language is simply beautiful! I would like to hear a song in it. And Welsh choir is a good idea too.
We had enough British reality and novelty tv stars trying to sustain there 15 minutes of fame by doing Eurovision! We want a serious artist to represent UK at last
Bless her, I love her but she wouldn’t go down well with Europe at all. At least she’d make sure she had staging.
Why don’t they just stop considering novelty acts and send a proper singer with a good song and innovative staging or maybe just give up and leave it to the countries who take Eurovision seriously.
Bill Bailey is a very talented man and can play many different genres from metal to techno.
If the BBC wanted to go down the route of an established all round performer, he wouldn’t be a bad choice with the right song – not a safe song….the RIGHT song!
Another I would love to see take the challenge would be, actor/comedian/musician Matt Berry. His recent material is quite psychedelic….like his recent release “Summer Sun”.
Straight white middle-aged anglophone man thinks that what Eurovision is missing is him. Classic. *facepalm*
Please God no
the should send the beatles
Just Yoko Ono would be good too
A lot has happened in UK since the Beatles (And Sweet, Queen, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd…an I forget a lot). But there are plenty of young bands out there right now that deserve their chance. The other day I was talking about The Luka State (“Feel it”), which I find really excellent. I’m sure there must be dozens more, and UK listeners must have their idea (I’m just a French girl not an expert on the subject) Apart from rock, I think there is also another track the UK should explore: Celtic music. This year… Read more »
If this will happen another ZERO POINTS is guaranteed..
i agree, UK get more ambitious please
Has anyone ever done 3 last places in a row? I think the UK has a great shot at it if they go in this direction.
And I would like a duet with Beyonce.
She starts off really strong in that performance, it’s only when she gets to the chorus that it fell apart a bit. With some coaching she could actually be a genuinely good singer/serious entry.
Just NO. On every possible level.
they should send dodie clark. extremely underrated.
“No” would be the short answer.
We actually need to send someone with talent, who can actually sing and perform. GC clearly doesn’t even know enough about the contest if she thought cover versions would be allowed.
Gemma Collins is hilarious but this attitude towards Eurovision is why the UK has finished last twice in a row. Please pick someone credible who is well rounded, doesn’t matter whether they are known or not. You can’t get any lower than a double 0.
I agree with you. The UK has lots of talented singers. Just ask the public to choose.
Who REALLY should rep UK: KOVEN, Tiggs Da Author, Jess Glynn, Becky Hill, Dutchkid, Pixie Lott, HRVY, Paloma Faith, Spencer Sutherland, Mumford and Sons, Beabadoobee, No Rome, Imogen Heap
Paloma! Mumford! Imogen!
Hey UK, please make “a little” effort.
If we’re on the subject of reality stars, a MUCH better choice would be Megan Mckenna. She actually writes her own songs and has released music, has won Celebrity X Factor, is serious about having a music career and has been to (I think) Nashville to record. She has the glamour factor and looks great onstage, has a stellar voice that can handle both big belting ballads and delicate, twinkly heartbreaker songs. If she went to the grand final with the song she performed on the X Factor, entitled ‘This’, she could do very well! For anyone who hasn’t heard… Read more »
Yeah, a former reality star who became a serious singer might not be bad as a one off, especially since McKenna isn’t as much of a laughing stock as the GC.
I think she’d make a better ESC artist than Gemma or Frock Destroyers.
I’m ok with this. I’m not sure if it will do well, but I’m sure most people will be entertained.
No, but seriously. The UK has spawned some of the most legendary bands in the history of music, some of its most illustrious authors, some of its most brilliant composers … and it comes down to a TV jug who wants to do a duet with Snoop Dog. But “help”, as four boys sang. I’m sure you have plenty of talented kids with guitar in hand, singers who had an universe, a personality. I know it’s not the joy right now for festivals, but ask your teens what music they listen to, take a tour of the little stages that… Read more »
Uk are clearly going down the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” route. And who can blame them, its served them well up to now. Whats that? Oh yeah, ummm… never mind.
This has to be fake news. A stereotyped entry. That’s one way to make us look like the laughing stock of the contest. It’s time we woke up and gave young, edgy, real talent a go. Time to fight back with a unapologetic song.
A duet with Katie Price! Oh FH, don’t they get that trash and zero originality will give Britain 0 point forever!?
Burn this idea now
With all these joke acts being thrown around it shows the UK has no idea the real talent pool they have. Gemma Collins? Please. The Frock Destroyers???? The only one worthy of going to ESC is Divina De Campo who is a brilliant singer, if someone got her away from the other two she could kill it with a phenom ballad but alas they are only interested in Campy stuff. Its a real dire situation in the UK.
Oh please.
Every idea in this article sounds like a last place to me, but go off I guess.
“Her biggest gig was on a celebrity special of the All Together Now talent show”… Enough said. This is what you get for treating ESC as a joke and mocking all the other countries for decades: only joke entries are interested now.
We don’t need a Gemma Collins or a Bill Bailey or someone who has won BRIT awards for something other than singing. We need a British Go-A, a British The Roop, a British Gjon’s Tears, a British The Black Mamba. Lee Smithurst, BMG and Co seem to be nowhere near finding an act like that.
I think a British version of popular Eurovision artists is the last thing you need. More like you need something fresh, genuine, unique. Unless that’s what you meant to say. The countries that do well in/win Eurovision are the ones that set the trends instead of following.
That’s what I meant Anhel, something as original as those acts were. Not exact copies.
Hey UK I have a crazy idea! What if… you know… make an effort? I think the last few years have proven you that you will get anywhere with a safe pop song.
Come on, you have the biggest music industry in europe and one of the biggest in the world! If you made a little effort you would be at the top 5 every single year.
The thing is, the UK would start getting hate if they sent the likes of Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran and consequently got high placements by virtue of star power alone.
The BBC should use Eurovision to give UK famous acts the chance to be discovered by Europe, so contestants are local pop stars, much like with other countries.
Then why not sending and up and coming bright artist like Rina Sawayama or others? The UK has so much talent, its a shame they Don’t use their potential 🙁
Uk Easy solution send Naomi Scott.
Someone like Sawayama would be welcome.
I agree with what you say and so does 99% of the UK. Sadly it inst the UK population including the true UK eurovision fans who have a choice. Even in the years we had a national final we were forced to choose the best of a bad bunch of songs. So maybe instead of starting your post “hey uk” maybe writing “Hey BBC” would be more accurate. 🙂 However, the BBC can only work with what it gets offered or can attract, and unfortunately no current or “up and coming” UK artist would consider Eurovision either due to reputation… Read more »
whatever entry gemma sends, scooch would still be better
Gammal, darling, you can’t go to eurovision with a cover song
Never gonna happen for that talentless reality “star”.
God, this is awful.
Honey pie, guurl you are born to get nul points … try to say to hi Andy Cohen and get your own “nothing matters but me” show and … Bye felicia!
Wow. They… they *really* don’t get it, do they?
I love that they took a look at Maneskin, Barbara Pravi, Gjon’s Tears, Go_A, Destiny, etc etc and somehow concluded: yes, the road to Eurovision glory is joke entries by reality TV stars.
They should give Asanda or Kerry-Anne a second chance with a cracking song and competitive stage designers.
I second this motion.
I’m still not over Asanda
I agree. Both of them were great on UK: YD. The songs would have to be on the same level. And Asanda would have to either dance less or learn how to coordinate it (a lesson from Hurricane would be welcome).
I can summarize it in three words: No thank you
Yes, she is going for minus points this time