Singer-songwriter James Newman will represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, it has been revealed.
James – who, yes, is indeed the brother of fellow musician John Newman – was confirmed as this year’s UK entry on Thursday morning, with his competing song My Last Breath receiving its first play on both the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows.
The My Last Breath music video has shared online later that morning, showing James walking around some icy mountains in the border between Poland and the Czech Republic.
He said: “It’s such an honour to be representing the United Kingdom this year at Eurovision – I still can’t quite believe it!
“I’m also so proud to be taking My Last Breath as the song. I wrote it with some of my best friends, who are amazingly talented songwriters in their own right.”
He added: “I knew it was ‘the one’ after first recording it. I just loved the simplicity and universal message of the song.”
In the past, the singer has co-written top 10 hits for Little Mix and Jess Glynne, not to mention chart-topping tracks for Rudimental and Calvin Harris, the latter of which was a collaboration with James’ famous brother.
He has also worked with former One Direction singers Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, as well as Olly Murs and Kesha.
My Last Breath was co-written by James, alongside Ed Drewett, Iain James and Adam Argyle, whose past credits include One Direction, Dua Lipa and James Bay.
Last year, the UK was represented by former All Together Now winner Michael Rice, who finished at the bottom of the pack with just 11 points in total.
Following this, it was revealed that the BBC would be taking a different approach to the competition in 2020, beginning with axing the Eurovision: You Decide shows, which allow the public to vote for which act and song are sent.
Instead, it was revealed the BBC would be collaborating with the record label BMG to decide on a song and artist to send as the UK’s representative.
Eurovision 2020 will be held in Rotterdam, following Duncan Laurence’s victory for The Netherlands, the first time they had won the competition since 1975.
The UK last won Eurovision in 1997, with Katrina And The Waves’ song Love Shine A Light.
Bucks Fizz from Britain, 1981
All the (primary) colours of the rainbow.
Photoshot via Getty Images
Verka Serduchka from Ukranie, 2007
Disco ball-meets-WW2 garrison caps. We’ll be in the bunker.
SVEN NACKSTRAND via Getty Images
D'Nash from Spain, 2007
This is 10 years too late to even be acceptable, guys.
SVEN NACKSTRAND via Getty Images
Jedward from Ireland, 2011
That hair.
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
Jedward again, 2012
Back again, in silver armour.
Pablo Blazquez Dominguez via Getty Images
Ruslana from Ukraine, 2004
Ruslana: “So there’s this TV show called “Xena: Warrior Princess’…”
Costumer: “Say no more.”
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Scooch from Britain, 2007
Britney’s Toxic costume went to Butlin’s and it didn’t quite come back the same person.
HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA via Getty Images
Abba from Sweden, 1974
Velvet, yaaas. Ruffles, yaaaaas. Chained shoulder pads, YAAAAS.
Imagno via Getty Images
Eric Papilaya from Austria, 2007
Is this some kind of metaphor? The Austrian singer rising like a sequined phoenix out of the flaming ashes of dead dancers? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Johannes Simon via Getty Images
Naviband from Belarus, 2017.
Just a lot of lace.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Yohanna from Iceland, 2009
Frozen before Frozen was even Frozen.
Oleg Nikishin via Getty Images
Jordan from Britain, 2005
Ok so technically she didn’t make it through to the actual show, but Jordan – aka Katie Price’s bid for Eurovision glory in a latex catsuit with sparkly corset while heavily pregnant is TV history.
REX
Joci Papai from Hungary, 2017.
Is a red bull near?
Michael Campanella via Getty Images
Nina Kraljic from Croatia, 2016
So metallic. So futuristic.
Vyacheslav Prokofyev via Getty Images
Sakis Rouvas from Greece, 2004
Simon Cowell prepares his imaginary friends for attack.
AP
