Eurovision race row: UK acts flopped 'because of skin colour'
- Eurovision acts have experience racism behind the scenes
- Andrew Lloyd Webber told 'black acts won't win'
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Senior figures linked to a number of former UK entries have told me they experienced racism behind the scenes and were openly told that acts featuring ethnic minorities would not be supported by many of the voting nations.
Since 2005, UK acts including Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen, and boyband Blue have done badly in the contest, despite strong performances.
Fair play? Javine Hylton was one UK star who flopped
Now several industry figures are pressing the BBC to cut ties with the competition for good.
One entry tells me: ‘We were told repeatedly when we were touring our song around Europe that we didn’t have a chance because of the race factor.
‘We didn’t believe it at the time. Then on the night our vote was very low in certain countries. Organisers were very open that there is a track record for some nations refusing to cast votes for acts featuring ethnic minorities.
‘We found the entire experience devastating and strongly believe the UK needs to withdraw. It’s a joke.’
Jade Ewen, left, and Andy Abraham, right, have both flopped at Eurovision
A manager of another former UK hopeful says: ‘When we returned home and everyone was asking us what went wrong, it didn’t feel right to mention the race factor but it’s well known in the industry the impact it has on votes.’
Even Andrew Lloyd Webber is believed to have been caught up in the Eurovision race debate. He co-wrote the song that Jade Ewen, who has a Jamaican mother, came fifth in 2009.
A member of the UK camp that year adds: ‘Jade won a TV talent show in the UK to perform Andrew’s song. Andrew lobbied for her around the Eurovision countries before the contest. At least once he was asked at a press conference why he had “cast a black girl” because it meant he could never win.
‘He was so shocked, he had to ask several times for a translator to repeat the question.’
This week, pop flop Sophie Ellis Bextor ruled herself out of being our next Eurovision entry, and song contest sources pointed out the UK has struggled with all-white acts Scooch and Josh Dubovie in recent years — and TV ratings have stayed stable, despite the results.
A Beeb spokesman said: ‘The BBC is committed to Eurovision and has no evidence of any racism around the event.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2162937/INSIDE-THE-BOX-Eurovision-race-row-UK-acts-flopped-skin-colours.html#ixzz1yVcb9s4I
Racism blamed for UK's lack of success at the Eurovision Song Contest because European nations 'won't vote for ethnic minority singers'
By DAN WOOTTON and AMY OLIVER
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Senior figures linked to a number of former UK entries for the Eurovision Song Contest have claimed Britain's lack of success is down to racism.
Since 2005, UK acts including Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen, and boyband Blue have done badly in the contest, despite strong performances.
Several industry figures, who spoke on condition on anonymity, said they had experienced racism behind the scenes of the annual contest.
Racist claims: Javine Hylton, left, came twenty-second in the singing contest with Touch My Fire, while 2008 UK entry Andy Abraham came twenty-fifth with Even If
They also claimed they had openly been told that acts featuring ethnic minorities would not be supported by many of the voting nations.
Now several industry figures are pressing the BBC to cut ties with the competition for good.
One, who wished not to be named, said: ‘We were told repeatedly when we were touring our song around Europe that we didn’t have a chance because of the race factor.
Controversial: Andrew Lloyd Webber is believed to have been caught up in the Eurovision race debate after co-writing the song that Jade Ewen, who has a Jamaican mother, came fifth with in 2009
Feeling blue: Boyband Blue featuring from left, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa, Simon Webbe and Duncan James came eleventh in last year's contest
‘We didn’t believe it at the time. Then on the night our vote was very low in certain countries. Organisers were very open that there is a track record for some nations refusing to cast votes for acts featuring ethnic minorities.
‘We found the entire experience devastating and strongly believe the UK needs to withdraw. It’s a joke.’
Andrew Lloyd Webber is also believed to have been caught up in the Eurovision race debate. He co-wrote the song that Jade Ewen, who has a Jamaican mother, came fifth with in 2009.
Winner and loser: Sweden's Loreen, left, won this year's contest, while right, Anglo-Indian singer Engelbert Humperdinck came a dismal twenty-fifth
A member of the UK team of that year said: ‘Jade won a TV talent show in the UK to perform Andrew’s song. Andrew lobbied for her around the Eurovision countries before the contest.
'At least once he was asked at a press conference why he had “cast a black girl” because it meant he could never win.
‘He was so shocked, he had to ask several times for a translator to repeat the question.’
This year Sweden won the contest after singer Loreen's song Euphoria racked up 372 points.
The UK came 25th after Anglo-Indian Engelbert Humperdinck's Love Will Set You Free attracted just 12 points.
A BCC spokesman said: ‘The BBC is committed to Eurovision and has no evidence of any racism around the event.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2163080/Is-racism-UKs-lack-success-Eurovision-Song-Contest.html#ixzz1yWI60FCK
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