Impresario in Eurovision race claim
Press Association 
Andrew Lloyd-Webber, with Jade Ewen, Says “Racism Prevalent in Eastern Europe” (Photo credit: Daniel Kruczynski)
The star, 64, spoke out after a string of disappointments in recent years for UK acts including Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen and boyband Blue.
The impresario co-wrote the song performed by Jade, who came fifth in 2009.
Asked what he thought about Britain's record, Lloyd Webber told the Radio Times: "I don't think there's any point beating around the bush. I'll put it to you by asking you a question. 'Did you see the Eurovision Song Contest this year? (when Engelbert Humperdinck narrowly avoided coming last).
"If you had seen it, you might have noticed one thing - I don't think there was one black face on the programme."
He said: "At the press conference in Moscow (in 2009), I was asked, 'Why have you brought a black artist?' I said, 'Because she is the most talented artist that we had and I think she's a major, major star.' I think we would have come second but there's a problem when you go further east..."
Asked whether he was saying that racism was the reason that Britain did not win, he said: "Well, it doesn't mean that we would necessarily have won that year but we could have come second.
"If you're talking about Western Europe - Germany, fine; France, fine; Spain, fine; Greece, fine; Scandinavian countries, fine. But Ukraine? Not so good."
A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is committed to Eurovision and has no evidence whatsoever of any racism around the event."
Swedish singer Loreen, 28, who is of Moroccan-Berber origin, won this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The former Swedish Idol contestant won with her club track Euphoria.
Andrew Lloyd Webber makes Eurovision racism claim- BBC News
Jade Ewen came fifth in the 2009 Eurovision song contest with a song co-written by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Speaking to the Radio Times, Lord Lloyd-Webber said the low rankings of acts like Blue and Jade Ewen had not been based purely on their music.
He added that, when he took Ewen to Moscow in 2009, he was asked "why have you brought a black artist?"
A BBC spokeswoman said the corporation "had no evidence whatsoever of any racism around the event".
But, referring to this year's contest, Lord Lloyd-Webber said: "I don't think there's any point beating around the bush. I don't think there was one black face on the programme."
'Problems'
Ewen, who sang It's My Time at the 2009 contest, has a Jamaican mother and Scottish-Sicilian father.
The singer - who is now a member of the Sugababes - eventually came fifth in the competition, but Lord Lloyd-Webber felt she deserved more.
"At the press conference in Moscow, I was asked, 'why have you brought a black artist?," he told the Radio Times.
"I said, 'because she is the most talented artist that we had and I think she's a major, major star'.
"I think we would have come second but there's a problem when you go further east," he continued.
"If you're talking about Western Europe - Germany, fine; France, fine; Spain, fine; Greece, fine; Scandinavian countries, fine.
"But Ukraine? Not so good."
Asked whether he thought racism had ultimately cost the UK the title, he commented: "Well, it doesn't mean that we would necessarily have won that year but we could have come second."
The contest was won that year by Norway's Alexander Rybak, who was born in Belarus, and sang his own composition, Fairytale.
But Ewen actually performed better than many of the UK's other entrants in recent years.
Josh Dubovie and Andy Abraham both came last, in 2010 and 2008 respectively.
And this year, 76-year old crooner Engelbert Humperdinck received just 12 points for his song Love Will Set You Free, placing second-to-last.
28-year-old Swedish singer Loreen, who is of Moroccan-Berber origin, won the contest with her club track Euphoria.
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