Michael Rice named as UK’s 2019 Eurovision entry
The former All Together Now winner fought off competition to win the chance to compete in Israel
Michael Rice has been selected as the UK’s 2019 Eurovision entry, set to perform the song Bigger Than Us in competition when the song contest arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel this May.
21-year-old Rice, probably best known as the winner of BBC talent show All Together Now and a former X Factor contestant, was one of the final three contestants chosen by judges on Friday 8th February’s Eurovision: You Decide broadcast, going on to win the public vote over Kerrie-Anne and Jordan Clarke.
- Will the UK still compete in Eurovision after Brexit?
- Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
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“I literally just came off the stage and honestly, I can’t believe I won,” Rice said shortly after his victory.
“I never in a million years thought I’d get the chance to do this experience, never mind win it.
“I’m really grateful for all my supporters out there who voted for me, and who’ve been there for me along this journey. Let’s do it! Let’s go to Tel Aviv and try and bring it home for us.”
Rice ended up competing against five other acts in the revamped Eurovision: You Decide format this year, which split the six candidates into three groups of two and gave each duo one song (with all three songs chosen by an international panel) to perform.
Following the “song-off,” the judges (The Saturdays’ Mollie King, JLS’ Marvin Humes and X Factor contestant-turned-presenter Rylan Clark-Neal) picked their favourite of the three song’s interpretations, before opening the final three contestants to a public vote.
The night was hosted by Mel Giedroyc and former Swedish Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw from Salford, and also included a performance from last year's winner Netta Barzilai.
“This has been such an exciting year for Eurovision: You Decide, with new format changes that we hope have really made the competition and programme more geared to find the perfect song,” BBC producer Mel Balac said.
“We’ve had some incredible performances tonight by everyone and everyone’s own individual take on the songs – well done to everyone! We are delighted for Michael and are proud to take Bigger Than Us to the Eurovision song contest final in May.”
However, some viewers weren’t too keen on the new format, particularly noting that having multiple versions of the same song created some issues when we’d never heard them before in the first place.
Still, however we got there it’s been decided, and Michael Rice will be putting his best foot forward this May. Fingers crossed we can do a little better than nil points…
The Eurovision Song Contest final takes place on Saturday 18th MayMichael Rice has been selected as the UK’s 2019 Eurovision entry, set to perform the song Bigger Than Us in competition when the song contest arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel this May.
21-year-old Rice, probably best known as the winner of BBC talent show All Together Now and a former X Factor contestant, was one of the final three contestants chosen by judges on Friday 8th February’s Eurovision: You Decide broadcast, going on to win the public vote over Kerrie-Anne and Jordan Clarke.
- Will the UK still compete in Eurovision after Brexit?
- Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
- RadioTimes.com newsletter: get the latest TV and entertainment news direct to your inbox
“I literally just came off the stage and honestly, I can’t believe I won,” Rice said shortly after his victory.
“I never in a million years thought I’d get the chance to do this experience, never mind win it.
“I’m really grateful for all my supporters out there who voted for me, and who’ve been there for me along this journey. Let’s do it! Let’s go to Tel Aviv and try and bring it home for us.”
Rice ended up competing against five other acts in the revamped Eurovision: You Decide format this year, which split the six candidates into three groups of two and gave each duo one song (with all three songs chosen by an international panel) to perform.
Following the “song-off,” the judges (The Saturdays’ Mollie King, JLS’ Marvin Humes and X Factor contestant-turned-presenter Rylan Clark-Neal) picked their favourite of the three song’s interpretations, before opening the final three contestants to a public vote.
The night was hosted by Mel Giedroyc and former Swedish Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw from Salford, and also included a performance from last year's winner Netta Barzilai.
“This has been such an exciting year for Eurovision: You Decide, with new format changes that we hope have really made the competition and programme more geared to find the perfect song,” BBC producer Mel Balac said.
“We’ve had some incredible performances tonight by everyone and everyone’s own individual take on the songs – well done to everyone! We are delighted for Michael and are proud to take Bigger Than Us to the Eurovision song contest final in May.”
However, some viewers weren’t too keen on the new format, particularly noting that having multiple versions of the same song created some issues when we’d never heard them before in the first place.
Still, however we got there it’s been decided, and Michael Rice will be putting his best foot forward this May. Fingers crossed we can do a little better than nil points…
The Eurovision Song Contest final takes place on Saturday 18th May
Authors
Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.
