Eurovision 2021 hopeful James Newman: ‘I’ve written the summer banger the UK deserves’
A year ago, James Newman was preparing to sing for an audience of 200 million in Rotterdam. Now he s back, with the data on his side
22 May 2021 • 7:26am I just hope everyone’s at home watching it on telly and not in the pub : UK Eurovision entrant James Newman
Credit: Victor Frankowski
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is underway, and this year, the UK s hopes ride on the shoulders of 2014 Brit Award-winner James Newman, with earnest single Embers .
The preview of Newman’s performance at the second Semi-Final on May 20 looked promising, and you can see how the London singer-songwriter fares by tuning in to the Grand Final on Saturday, May 22, which will go live on BBC One from 8pm.
1970: Mary Hopkin, ‘Knock, Knock, Who’s There?’
Welsh folk singer Hopkin gave the UK another second place at Eurovision, after a string of hit singles including Goodbye (written and produced by Paul McCartney).
After she married top producer Tony Visconti in 1971, she withdrew from the limelight, but still sang on several albums he produced, including David Bowie’s Low. After a late-Seventies comeback, she joined a group called Oasis (not the Gallaghers’ band), and sang on Vangelis’s soundtrack for Blade Runner. She is still recording, and released her last studio album in 2013.
In 2018, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her break out single Those Were the Days, produced by Paul McCartney, Hopkin released a new acoustic version of the track.
Eurovision 2021 live: Results & performances as the show happens
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Twenty-six acts will sing for the title of Eurovision winner, 2021, tonight as the contest is back after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
20 finalists went through this week after the semi-finals and tonight, they will join the big five, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom, along with this year s host, which is the Netherlands, in the grand final. You can read why the UK automatically qualifies for Eurovision grand final here.
James Newman is the UK entry. Picture: Ray Burmiston CRACK open the ouzo and scoop out the tinned herring (that’s Greece and Norway covered in your Euro-themed buffet) - Eurovision is back! After a year when Covid cancelled pretty much everything, Europe’s naffest show is returning, with tonight s live final broadcast from Rotterdam. Who cares if UK hopeful James Newman’s song is a bit rubbish? We could put the remaining Beatles on that stage and still wouldn’t win because, let’s face it, no-one likes us. It’s just a hoot to watch, and we need a laugh and a bit of escapism - not to mention a celebration of live music.
Katie Price to Sam Fox - all the stunning celebs who just lost out on Eurovision stardom
The Eurovision Song Contest has returned in all its glory in 2021 after the plug was pulled on the festival last year, with James Newman flying the flag for the UK. But there are plenty more celebs who didn’t quite make the cut