A Harrogate-born pop star will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest next year.
Olly Alexander, frontman of UK-chart-topping band Years & Years, announced the news on the Strictly Come Dancing final on Saturday night.
The contest, which is being held in Malmö in Sweden, will mark the beginning of Olly’s solo career.
In a press release published by the BBC, he said:
“I’ve loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I’m beyond excited to be taking part next year.
“As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour.
“I really can’t believe I’m going to be a part of such a special legacy and fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible, it shall be an honour.”
Despite this being his first solo venture, Olly is no stranger to global success.
Since 2015, Years and Years have scored two number one UK albums, 10 UK top 40 singles and, most recently, were awarded the BRIT Billion Award after achieving 6.5 billion global streams.
He has also worked with the likes of Sir Elton John, Kylie and Pet Shop Boys.
He added:
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and it feels like the right moment to start releasing music under my own name.
“I’m determined to give it everything I’ve got and put on an excellent and unforgettable performance for you all.”
But the Harrogate-born star is not just a singer – he has also received prestigious recognition for his acting skills.
Olly starred in the Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin, which won best new drama at the National Television Awards.
He was also nominated for leading actor at the BAFTA Television Awards for the same programme.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, also said:
“To have an artist of Olly Alexander’s calibre representing the UK in Malmö in 2024 is testament to just how much the BBC wants to keep momentum of Eurovision riding high since the UK had the honour of hosting the contest on behalf of Ukraine in Liverpool earlier this year.
“Olly is the perfect ambassador for the UK as both an immensely talented and world-renowned artist and passionate fan of the competition.”
Olly’s Eurovision song, co-written by British producer Danny L Harle, has not yet been released.
All three live Eurovision programmes – including two semi-finals and the final – will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
They will be held on May 7, 9 and 11, 2024.
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Harrogate man through to competition stage of MasterChef
A Harrogate man has made it through the first stage of the 19th series of MasterChef.
Hotel supervisor Owen Diaram made his debut on the primetime BBC programme last night.
He was one of nine contestants battling it out in the third week of heats for a place in the competition round, with only seven going through.
Drawing inspiration from his South African roots, Mr Diaram blended his style of cooking with some Indian flavours – making a “perfectly cooked” prawn biriyani, as described by the notoriously tough judges.
He found himself cooking a second time to fight for the final few remaining aprons that took him through to the next round.
It was his second dish that earned him a place in the competition round of the programme and a famous MasterChef apron.
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Asked about his food dream, Mr Diaram told the BBC:
“I am hoping that local restaurants in Harrogate will give me opportunities to work with them after seeing me cook in the MasterChef kitchen.
“Eventually I’d love my own business within the hospitality industry bringing my unique style of cooking to North Yorkshire for more people to enjoy.”
In the next episode, he will compete alongside six other contestants for a place in the quarter-final.
It will air at 8pm tomorrow night (Thursday, April 27) on BBC One.
Don’t miss former MasterChef semi-finalist Olayemi A Adelekan’s weekly food feature coming to the Stray Ferret on Saturday, April 29.
Harrogate shops to feature in BBC programme hosted by Alan CarrThree Harrogate shops will feature in an episode of BBC One’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr next week.
The ‘Chatty Man’ was seen filming the programme outside Westmorland Sheepskins, in Harrogate, last summer.
The episode will showcase the transformation of three independent stores – Westmorland Sheepskins, Daniel Footwear and another women’s clothing store.
The 8-part programme follows 10 designers competing for a commercial interior design contract.
The contestants take on a new interior design challenge up and down the country each week, ranging from shops and restaurants, to beach huts and bars.
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Each unit had a unique brief and design requirements, and the designers pitched their plans to the Harrogate shop owners, who decided their favourite idea and nominated a lead designer.
The designers had a budget of £3,000 and just two days to transform the allocated space.
Pic: Daniel Footwear as seen on BBC’s Interior Design Master
Westmorland Sheepskins said:
“The cats out of the bag — you probably saw the front of our shop on this week’s episode.
“It was a new experience for us that we thoroughly enjoyed, and we cannot wait to see the final edit”.
The episode will air next Tuesday at 8pm on BBC One.
Sadly, Westmorland Sheepskins has announced the closure of its Harrogate store this week.