Following Eurovision 2018 he appeared on an Instagram live, saying that he loved Netta’s “Toy”, before performing chicken noises.
And now British singer Robbie Williams has been discussing Eurovision yet again, saying that he’s ready to perform as an interval act for Eurovision 2023.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1’s Scott Mills while promoting his new album XXV, the “Feel” hitmaker revealed that he’s ready to hit the song contest stage.
“Actually, I’ve already put my name forward,” he said at the playback event at The Arts Club in London. “Not to represent the UK…but to do that bit at the half time like Madonna and Justin Timberlake.”
Scott points out that the show can reach 200 million people, which turns Robbie’s dial up to 60.
“Abso-f*cking-lutely. I’ll have a bit of that. Nobody did that and then Justin Timberlake did it one year.”
“I love Eurovision, I’m a massive fan,” Robbie continued. “It’s really simple. Get a great song, get somebody great to perform it and we’ll do really well. If we don’t have those two things then we’re going to come last. Nil points.”
Robbie’s most recent comments dovetail nicely with the comments he made on Instagram live back in 2018. Asked about whether he would participate in Eurovision the following year, he said:
“I don’t think I will — not next year because I’ve got nothing to promote. If I had something to promote I would appear on it. But I won’t be doing anything in Europe next year.”
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Of course, not all interval acts are created the same. In May 2016, Justin wowed Europe and Australia with his performance of “Can’t Stop The Feeling” during the grand final interval. The song went on to storm the charts across Europe.
One month after Eurovision the song had topped the charts in 18 countries, 12 of which competed at Eurovision in 2016. These included Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
And then you had Madonna. In 2019 The Material Girl seemed to leave her voice in London when she ventured to Tel Aviv for the grand final, drawing widespread criticism for her overpriced performance.
Would you like to see Robbie Williams perform at Eurovision in some way? Let us know in the comments box below!
Ugh God no. If you’re going to invite someone to put on an interval show, invite Queen & Adam Lambert, Elton John, or someone super current like Dua Lipa.
Not poking Robbie in the eye, but Madonna was still putting out music when she performed. Robbie hasn’t done anything of any worth for years now, aside from appear on the X Factor as a judge.
people were confused thinking that he said he wants to represent the UK, I guess the media outlets twisted his words. He said he wants to perform as the interval act like Madonna and Timberlake. LOL of course he does, he thinks he’s a global star like Madonna and Timberlake to be guaranteed an invitation 😛 even though he has never been involved with Eurovision. Another has-been who wants 7 minutes of fame. I hope BBC does not invite him if they host the show in 2023. They could invite Katrina or past UK entries or even a global super… Read more »
Uk should host next year’s Esc and Boris Johnson must organize it all. He has just proved to the world he is the best at organizing big parties.
and he’s a clown so he will entertain people.
Even though I cannot stand Timberlake at least he’s relevant and not 15 years out of date like this deluded gentleman. He no doubt wants a huge fee for appearing but will put in no effort. Eurovision needs global stars and Robbie has never been one. Even in his height of fame in the UK he couldn’t manage to conquer the USA. Sorry mate you are no longer a star.
Robbie Williams is still a huge star across Europe so it could work. A sing along to ” Angels” would be amazing
He’s a has-been like the Rasmus and Cascada.
Sorry, but he waited way too long. If he wanted in, he should have campaigned for it before 2015. After 30+ years in the business and quite well-known at his peak, he’s too much of a has-been now.
D’oh! My mistake. Did he say interval act? He might be past his prime even for that, and he is not on the same level as Madonna.
In terms of Ukraine, I’m hoping Monatik, Go_A, Tina Karol, and/or alyona alyona may participate as interval acts (I’d be okay with Jamala coming back but she was featured a lot in Kyiv 2017). I’d also be open to seeing Alina Pash and Maruv again since they didn’t get to go to their respective ESC, but not sure if UA:PBC would be willing for those.
I forgot Kseniya Simonova (the sand artist for Mika Newton and Anna Odobescu)!
Jamala would definitely be invited to perform 1944, the Ukrainians will not exclude her as she played a major role promoting Ukrainian culture
I think we should try sending him anyway to see what he can do. He’d be good as an interval act but get him in during when the UK and Ukraine are hosting.
He’s coming across as very vain. I hate when already famous artists come on to “Promote their new music”, what I dislike most about it is how they always seem oblivious to how big an event like Eurovision actually is, for them it’s just another stage.
Well yes. They have performed at bigger stages with bigger crowds. For them they have nothing to gain from ESC,it is just another gig
then why is he begging to perform as interval act? clearly he’s not invited to big stages anymore!
Well, let us have the most expensive and best ESC ever in 2023 …..and it will cost us no Cent / Euro / Penny / Pound ….. Putin and Russia has plenty of money on bank savings here in Europe and UK … and he / they can’t get that money because it is blocked.
I say let us use it for something good (imagine what great event we all could have ^^)
something good is provide food and shelter to refugees and rebuild Ukraine, not host Eurovision!
If Uk hosts I wanna see Dula Peep as interval act!
Give me RW anytime! Go for it, Robbie!
Is he really willing to travel to Ukraine next year though?
Well he performed at the Russian World Cup opening.
No, but he’s willing to travel to Manchester.
Even if another country has to host in Ukraine’s stead, surely nobody is tone-deaf enough to suggest that interval acts and the general flavour of the evening would be anything other than one that would be promoting Ukraine?
Oh wait, Robbie has something to promote….
Not sure whether he’s 15 or 20 years late … I mean, I like him since he appears to be fun to hang around with. But when it comes to his stardom, he’s pretty much finished, isn’t he?
He should rather consider doing what Blue did.
He ain’t finished yet. Him and Barlow keep releasing new content. It’s a shame we won’t get to see him at Eurovision.
Then go and see Robbie in Stoke-on-Trent or on his tour. He pretty much said he’s not interested in participating and they wouldn’t choose him anyway. Even 10 years ago they refused to play his new music on Radio 1 as they said it wasn’t suitable for their demographic. Andrew Cartmell and Lee Smithurst want to win.
There is no way the UK is hosting it next year so this is just nothing really. As much as I enjoy Robbie’s music, the UK has next to no chance to host the contest next year due to the issues currently afflicting the country,
Spain should host it. It’s the only logical and suitable choice.
Sorry but I live in the UK…..what issues?
The fact that the uk is the only country in Europe that Ukrainians have to get visas for, so why should Ukrainian delegation have to get visas for the contest the should be hosting.
There are already thousands of Ukrainians in London and the UK. We are basically one of several big homes for them now.
no there aren’t many Ukrainians in the UK here compared to Poland, Germany and other countries. The Tories have been heavily criticised about the visas and many refugees were stranded in the eurostar because they were not allowed to enter the UK. Priti Nazi Patel is sending refugees to Rwanda. So yes, UK should not host if we want to be FAIR.
And why should Spain host? They came third!
who said that it’s about who comes 2nd and who comes 3rd? It’s about who gives the best alternative option to host.
BBC has NEVER expressed interest to host. Maybe they did it behind the scenes or maybe EBU asked them and they are considering it, we won’t know unless it is officially announced.
Spain, Sweden, Netherlands have all confirmed.
There are ZERO issues that would interfere with Eurovision whereas in Ukraine you literally have EVERYTHING against it: the war, the destroyed houses, the falling rubble, the chances of being bombed or hit with a missile, the chance of Russian ground forces taking the area its hosted, mines and bombs being found underneath rubble, expensive insurance that Ukraine can’t pay, money that the Ukrainian people would rather go to building new houses or the military than some high class music contest, thousands of refugees who need to return back to their rightful homes. There’s too much to think about! The… Read more »
God, are we forgetting that Ukraine won? Have people forgotten Ukraine is the most patriotic nation in Europe (even more now) and they would laugh at the fact Robbie Williams, a British man, wants to be the interval act for THEIR contest? Especially NOW? Ukraine will put up a fight if they are refused to host rights. Ukraine will put up a fight if they cannot choose the host country. Ukraine will put up a fight if they cannot select the presenters and interval acts. Basically, Ukraine will put up a fight if the contest doesn’t go the way they… Read more »
Before someone says ‘But JT performed in Stockholm and he isn’t Swedish’. Yes, we all know that. But Sweden isn’t Ukraine. Sweden also isn’t in the same situation Ukraine was in.
Ukraine will want this show to be 100% Ukrainian, and rightly so.
We also have to be realistic and realise that Ukraine won’t want that!
This is Ukraine we’re talking about, Europe’s most patriotic nation which is also currently at war. This isn’t San Marino or Montenegro which can’t host due to financial or structural reasons.
The planning of Eurovision 2023 will be extremely messy, just wait.
The host broadcaster never pays for everything. The EBU is also a producer. Before next year’s host is decided, an agreement on what the contest will be should be reached. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything.
Where I do see your argument Thallo, I do have to disagree. We cannot force anyone to host when the winning nation from the previous contest is in such hardships that it is not remotely feasible to host given the atrocities that have took and have continued to take place there. I do agree that contest should have some Ukrainian identity given the circumstances but to have 100% of it dictated by UA:PBC is not fair. The interim host nation flips the bill in part to then play second fiddle in retrospect so that Ukraine can have their glory moment… Read more »
Mika technically wasn’t Italian too and Italy is one of the poorest nations in Europe.
Mika lives in Italy and Italy is one of the biggest economies of eurozone. Get a grip, UK is the one with the flopping economy after Russia.
Why can’t it be a joint venue – 50 50? You pay one half, we’ll pay the other?!
JT’s songs were written by Swedish songwriters and that’s how the connections worked and they asked him.
why you speaking for all Ukrainians ? I’m Ukrainian and I don’t mind Robbie as interval act guest, people here knows who he is and his songs are streaming on our radio stations I don’t think we can host, unfortunately, so let host who can and I’m sure we will have few Ukrainian interval acts and one of hosts definitely will be ours, why doing the drama out of this? we need to win the war and stop bloody Russians who keep k*lling us every day first, and Eurovision should be in somewhere more safe place, so let other country… Read more »
Remember, Robbie is doing this for YOU guys.
yikes
What if I told you Robbie visited Ukraine and could sig in Ukrainian?
Its really not up to Ukraine to decide and choose but EBU. Ukraine cant force countries to do their bidding while paying for it.
It is not going to be 100% Ukraine influence.
I would suggest and personnaly prefer a Dua Lipa or Ed Sheeran interval. Organizors showed their desire to attract new and young audiences (that TikTok thing you know 😉 ) and their profils would suit very well.
Also the perspective of UK hosting can’t stop me thinking about my dream of Adele performing on ESC in some way, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. How iconic and historic would it be ?
I doubt Dua Lipa would bother, especially since her home country of Kosovo isn’t even allowed to participate until they gain EBU membership (they were denied once before). Dua is extremely patriotic by the way!
If Kosovo debuts in 2023, and the contest is also hosted in the UK, it would be more than likely that Dua Lipa would perform.
Ed Sheeran would be the most boring interval act in years, maybe ever.
Ed Sheera is an opportunist so he would LOVE to perform in Eurovision as interval act but yes he is boring to death
Adele’s more recent songs are not as good as her original songs and as a result, she’s become highly overrated.
If it come true, it will be a good news. A wonderful voice and a real performer for the show.
Maybe he should rather actually participate in the competition ?
bad idea, the rasmus flopped this year – same for Bonnie Tyler and Cascada and almost Blue
What’s Robbie’s best song? I don’t know anything past the 1990s stuff.
I don’t get the negativity here. He is a fan of the contest he gave us great music so why not? I hope we also get to see Coldplay one day on the eurovision stage they are also fans.
The gays don’t want it.
Just apply as participant
absolutely not. i’d rather have ukrainian interval acts, they won and it should ukrainians who are celebrated and honored in this time where their identity is under attack. i have no desire to see some british dude that only boomers listen to as next year’s interval and i’d be extremely annoyed if it were to happen. genuinely, i find it really disrespectful of this dude to push himself as a potential interval act when there are ukrainian artists who far more deserve the opportunity
I mean, last time we were in Ukraine they invited Justin Timberlake…
No, that was when we were in Sweden.
My bad, it was when Ukrainie won last time, right
Last time we were in Ukraine they gave us an awesome interval act featuring ONUKA with a medley of their songs.
exactly. ONUKA were my favorite interval act in recent memory, such an awesome band that i listen to regularly to this day
First of all,get a life,Robbie Williams would smash it and Eurovision should be honoured that he wants to perform on the Eurovision stage.
But more importantly we don’t know where Eurovision is going to be held next year so whoever the host broadcaster will decide…!!!
i’m plenty fine as i am,,, whoever this dude is and others like him performing as interval acts would cheapen eurovision big time because it’s not the place to promote yourself and i wholeheartedly doubt europe will feel united in these unprecedented times if robbie who?-lliams were to bore us with a terrible self-propaganda campaign. like i said before this is ukraines victory and therefore ukrainian artists should get priority to be a part of the eurovision show over random celebrities who think theyre entitled to perform just cause theyre semi-famous
I don’t know… he seems like the kinda artist that would slam Eurovision for being too political and Brexit bla bla bla when the UK does poorly, but now he wants to jump on the bandwagon. And Eurovision isn’t just an opportunity to “promote something,” comes across kinda rude.
I don’t think it’s fair to call him a Brexit-blamer, there’s nothing to suggest that.
This just reads like you’ve made up a reason to be upset at this? You’re just making up words to put in his mouth.
Where is the evidence he said this?
exactly. now people consider eurovision as a great show to perform. before Sam’s success they called it political and career-suicide. Steps were like no never Eurovision and now 3 of them consider eurovision lol
My hope is that if it winds up in Glasgow, we get a super-Celtic interval act. Eurovision hasn’t been in Scotland since 1972 or in a broadly-Celtic nation since 1997. Bring on the bagpipes!
Throw in the only Scottish winner, Boom-bang-a-bagpipes.
Madonna’s vocals were not so good, this is true, but we should remember that she was actually the only 2019 interval act to sing live. For me, that means she was the best. The rest were just pretend.
Where’s the evidence for this? Surely Mika wouldn’t lip sync it’s unlike him.
I said 2019, not 2022.
Mika used pre-recorded vocals if you check his performance again
Would be interesting, although his newer music is quite lame compared to his earlier songs
Absolutely not
He loves it, but not enough to actually enter?