Olly Alexander will represent the United Kingdom at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden, the pop singer has revealed.
The Years & Years lead singer and Bafta winning actor’s participation was announced during the live final of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evening.
During the show, Alexander walked out of a golden doorframe to read the small print about voting in the dance competition.
Claudia Winkleman said to the 33-year-old from Harrogate, North Yorkshire: “Now Olly, you have some news for us, and, if it’s alright with you, could we have a drum roll please?”
The drums started and Alexander said: “I do Claudia, I can exclusively reveal I will be representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.”
He added with a smile: “What can I tell you? I’m planning it now, it’s going to be spectacular – I love Eurovision so, so, so much, I’m so excited, it’s going to be great” – before shouting “Sweden” alongside Winkleman.
He went on: “I love Eurovision so much, it’s a dream come true. I’m just so, so excited.”
The song he will perform next May has yet to be announced, but the BBC confirmed it was co-written by Alexander and Danny L Harle, who have produced hits for Dua Lipa, Chic and Charli XCX.
Over the past decade with Years & Years, Alexander has scored five top 10 UK singles and two number one albums.
He won his Bafta for his performance as Ritchie Tozer in Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin.
As is tradition, the winning country plays host to the next year’s competition – and in 2023, Loreen won for Sweden with the song “Tattoo”, which racked up a grand total of 583 points.
Therefore the contest 2024 is taking place in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city – and tickets are already on sale with prices starting from approximately £11, rising to £288 for Grand Final live show tickets.
Additional reporting by Press Association