UK Eurovision contenders revealed

UK Eurovision contenders revealed

Waterman will write and co-produce this year's UK entry
The BBC has revealed the six acts who will face the public vote in a bid to become this year's UK Eurovision entry.

The Eurovision hopefuls, including four solo acts and two groups, will perform live in front of a panel of judges in Your Country Needs You! on 12 March.

Esma Akkilic, Karen Harding, Josh Dubovie and Alexis Gerred will vie with trio Miss Fitz, and five-piece Uni5.

Hitmaker Pete Waterman, who is writing and producing this year's Eurovision entry, will lead the panel of judges.

"We've got the song and we've got six acts - now all we're waiting for is the public," said Waterman.

The panel will also include Strictly Come Dancing's Bruno Toniolo and Sugababes star Jade Ewen, who performed last year's UK entry in Moscow.

Following performances by the six acts on the BBC One show next week, Waterman will choose three acts to debut the Eurovision song.


EUROVISION WANNABEES
Alexis Gerred, 20
Esma Akkilic, 17
Josh Dubovie, 19
Karen Harding, 18
Miss Fitz
Uni5
The final decision rests with the voting public.

The four solo performers - Esma, Karen, Josh and Alexis - are aged between 17 and 20. They will vie with an all-girl trio from London, Miss Fitz, and the five-piece act Uni5.

Waterman will work on the UK entry with fellow music producer Mike Stock, who together formed part of the highly-successful 80s recording trio Stock Aitken Waterman, which launched the career of Kylie Minogue, among others.

"If any man can second guess European musical tastes surely that man is Pete Waterman," said Eurovision host Graham Norton, who will present next week's deciding show.

"I can't wait to get to Oslo and see the competition. Fingers crossed we can build on last year's success.

Jade Ewen's performance of It's My Time, a joint collaboration by Lord Lloyd Webber and songwriter Diane Warren, came fifth in the contest in 2009.

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Norwegian capital on 29 May.