United Kingdom: Michael Rice to fly the flag in Tel Aviv
United Kingdom has decided its Eurovision 2019 act as the country’s national final Eurovision: You Decide 2019 finished minutes before and sent Michael Rice to Tel Aviv
The British national final took place tonight in BBC studios at Media City UK in Salford and was hosted by Måns Zelmerlöw, Swedish ESC 2015 winner with the song Heroes, alongside with Mel Giedroyc, in order to select the country’s 62nd Eurovision entry. Different than in previous years, only three songs were competing at Eurovision: You Decide 2019 as each song was performed in two different versions and genres. After each so-called “song-off”, in which the same song was performed by two different artists and in two versions,the winner of each duel qualified to a Superfinal round for three acts from which the final winner will be determined.
The duels that we we saw unfold tonight on stage were :
- Kerrie-Anne – Sweet Lies vs Anisa – Sweet Lies
- Jordan Clarke – Freaks vs MAID – Freaks
- Michael Rice – Bigger Than Us vs Holly Tandy – Bigger Than U
THE RESULTS
The national final featured a three member jury of experts and televoting, which both contributed to the outcome of the national final.
The acts who will form the jury panel of Eurovision: You Decide 2019, are the following:
- Rylan – past X Factor contestant, tv presenter and commentator of Eurovision 2018 for BBC.
- Marvin Humes – radio DJ and producer. He received fame as member of the group JLS. His wife Rochelle Humes was a past member of the You Decide panel.
- Mollie King – member of the female group The Saturdays, radio DJ και ex participant of the show Strictly Come Dancing on BBC.
The 3 judges initially decided which act and version of the song were to qualify it to the Superfinal round.
Kerrie-Anne – Sweet Lies
Jordan Clarke – Freaks
Michael Rice – Bigger Than Us
In the Superfinal round of the show all 3 different songs battled for the ticket to Tel Aviv as the 3 chosen acts performed their version of the song again. Public televote decided 100% that the act that should represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 is Michael Rice.
The 21-year-old from Hartlepool, who was also on The X Factor in 2014, won the £50,000 prize on All Together Now in March 2018, using the money to take his family to Disneyland and to set up a shop selling ice cream and waffles.
In tonight’s show we saw on stage Eurovision 2018 winner, Netta, perform once again her winning entry Toy but also Bucks Fizz (UK 1981) and Katrina (UK Eurovision 1997 winner) during a throwback performance to past Eurovision entries
