THE man who helped to mastermind Sam Ryder’s second-place finish in Eurovision is now leading the search for our entry next year.
Sam gave the UK its best result in more than two decades in 2022.
The man who helped to mastermind Sam Ryder’s Eurovision success is leading the search for our entry next year[/caption]
Since then, the results have tumbled back towards the bottom of the scoreboard, so the man behind Space Man singer Sam has been brought in to change our fortunes.
David May, who is a leading figure in the industry and who managed Sam during his triumph in Turin, is spearheading the hunt for the act and song to represent the UK in Basel, Switzerland, next May.
The search is already under way but I’m told he is especially keen to get a more “diverse” act, given it has been well over a decade since a non-white person competed for the UK.
My music insider said: “The UK has some of the best musical talent in the world and they are trawling that to find someone from a more diverse background who can put in a great performance.
“There is a key focus on finding a performer who can deliver a powerhouse vocal every time on stage. There is no room for a pitchy singer this time around.
“The song is very important too, so there are lots of things to consider. But David is throwing himself into the challenge.”
Confirming his involvement, David said: “I’m excited to be working with BBC Studios and the BBC on this journey. We’re seeking talent and a song that embodies the essence of UK music.
“We want to collaborate with an authentic act who has a genuine, heartfelt story to tell, and an unmatched vocal tonality and range.
“Ultimately we’re looking for a powerful three-minute performance that resonates with and moves audiences across Europe and beyond.”
Olly Alexander, who finished in 18th in Sweden this year, was announced as the UK entry last December.
But the BBC has said it won’t confirm when next year’s act will be revealed, only that it will be before next March.
The annual song contest is one of the BBC’s most popular entertainment programmes of the year.
Around 8.5million British viewers tuned in to watch it live this year, when Nemo won for Switzerland with The Code.
Next year’s final will take place on May 17 — and we’ll be bringing you all the drama.
James goes out in Styles
IT looked like James Norton had been rifling through Harry Styles’ wardrobe when he turned up at a movie event in this baggy suit.
James Norton turned up at a movie event in London in this baggy yellow suit[/caption]
Harry Styles previously wore a very similar outfit to Norton’s[/caption]
He wore the bright yellow outfit to the gala screening of his new film Joy as part of the BFI London Film Festival on Tuesday night.
The movie is about the British scientists who developed IVF, and is due out on Netflix next month.
Meanwhile, James is booked and busy as he has been in Liverpool shooting his next project. For the same streaming platform, it is a series called House Of Guinness about the rise of the drink.
I hope he can have a few pints on set to sweeten the deal.
O2 is taking a stand against ticket touts after research the telecommunications giant conducted showed dodgy resales and rip-offs are costing UK music fans £145million a year.
At a panel in London yesterday, Gareth Griffiths, of Virgin Media O2, said: “While there are some resale platforms that exist to help fans and cap secondary profits, there are others who seek only to make as much money as possible out of genuine fans.”
IT’S HALL GUNS BLAZING, DUA
DUA LIPA will tonight put on a spectacular but intimate homecoming show for British fans before kicking off her massive Radical Optimism world tour in less than a month.
Dua Lipa is playing a one-off gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall[/caption]
My favourite pop star is playing a one-off gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
And according to my well-placed insiders, she is going to treat the crowd to a show like never before.
A source said: “Playing the Royal Albert Hall is a huge milestone for Dua and after her Glastonbury headline set, she will be going all out to impress.
“She will be extending the stage to fit all of the musicians.
“If anyone thought the Royal Albert Hall show was going to be more pared back, they are in for a surprise because she has ramped it up a notch.
“Cameras are going to be following her too, so if you’re in the audience, make sure you’ve dressed to impress because you could see yourself on the box.”
Tickets for tonight’s show sold out in eight minutes and Bizarre’s Howell will be in the crowd to bring you all the news from the night.
As for me, I’ll be catching Dua live at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, where Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne is being inducted for the second time.
Bring on the jet lag.
OSCAR-winner Gary Oldman is returning to the stage for the first time in 38 years.
He will appear in a production of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape at London’s York Theatre Royal, having last had a theatre credit with the 1987 show Serious Money.
The play, about a man who records a tape each year on his birthday, will run from April 14 to May 17, with tickets on sale from November 16.
Leigh-Anne is sheer class
LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK combined being a mum and a chart celeb as she got dressed up in full pop star garb to attend a kids’ clothing launch.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock wore this sheer red outfit to a kids’ clothing launch[/caption]
The former Little Mix singer wore this sheer red outfit to join Krept from the hip-hop duo Krept & Konan at his Childsplay Clothing The Edit x Krept & Nala’s Baby dinner in Mayfair on Tuesday.
He launched his kids’ skincare range Nala’s Baby two years ago but is now turning the focus back to music with the pair’s upcoming album Kings II.
Krept said in an exclusive chat with me: “Kings II is like the sequel to the moment we became independent and our lives changed.
“It feels like a full-circle moment. We’ve been away working on other things, building brands, fatherhood, family.
“But me and Konan are really versatile, so we’ve also got club stuff, we’ve been to Africa, we’ve been to the Caribbean.”
They will drop the tracklist for the record next month and Krept promised me some big surprises, so I am looking forward to hearing them.
ELTON’S A HEEL RAISER
HIS outlandish fashion sense is sometimes more Butlin’s than Balenciaga.
Sir Elton John asked for his favourite shoe designer to provide 80 pairs for the cast of the West End stage show version of The Devil Wears Prada[/caption]
But Sir Elton John is making sure the ensemble cast of the West End stage show version of The Devil Wears Prada are oozing style.
As well as writing the tunes for the musical, insiders have told me Elton, asked for his favourite shoe designer, Terry De Havilland, to provide more than 80 pairs for the cast.
A show insider said: “Elton is a massive fan of Terry’s and the wardrobe department has now requested 81 pairs from Terry.
“Elton has an eye for style and he’s so proud of the production.
“He can’t wait for it to open at the Savoy Theatre now so everyone can hear – and see – what he has worked on.”
NICK JONAS ran off stage during a concert in Prague on Tuesday after a laser was pointed at him.
He was on The Jonas Brothers’ tour when the incident happened.
The gig was paused for several minutes before it was assured there was no security threat, and he returned to the stage.
That’s a relief, but no one should have to live in fear like that.
JOKER FLOP HITS HOME
JOAQUIN PHOENIX and Lady Gaga‘s film Joker: Folie a Deux is getting a rushed home release in a bid to claw back cash after it flopped at the box office.
Joker: Folie a Deux will be out on home entertainment platforms on October 29 after it flopped at the box office[/caption]
It will be out on home entertainment platforms on October 29 – less than a month after it was released in cinemas – having so far made £126million.
That figure might seem high after two weeks on screens, but the movie cost £150million to make and a further £75million to market, so there’s a long way to go before it breaks even.
It’s also hugely disappointing compared to the first film in 2019, which made almost £1billion worldwide.
Gaga played Harley Quinn in the movie and got paid £9.2million, while it’s been revealed that director Todd Phillips and Joaquin were paid £15.3million apiece.
Tough to Beats Kim
KIM KARDASHIAN’s eldest daughter North West recently said dad Kanye is one of her favourite musicians to listen to.
Kim Kardashian has launched a special-edition Beats Pill[/caption]
Luckily, Kim has launched a new speaker so she can drown out her ex’s tunes.
She posed with this special-edition Beats Pill, available in light and dark grey, which is her third collaboration with the brand.
Speaking about the all-new speaker, which goes on sale tomorrow, Kim said: “Music is a big part of my everyday life, from morning gym sessions to creative brainstorms, and the Beats Pill makes it that much more beautiful.”
