Engelbert Humperdinck to fly the flag for the UK at Eurovision

Engelbert Humperdinck will represent the United Kingdom at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

"It's an absolute honour to be representing my country for this year's Eurovision Song Contest," said Humperdinck. "When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision. I'm excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me!"

The singer, who will celebrate his 76th birday shortly before this year’s grand final in Baku, Azerbaijani, on May 26, will sing an as yet unnamed track co-written by Adele and Lana Del Rey songwriter Sacha Skarbek and Martin Terefe, who has written with the likes of Mary J Blige and James Morrison in the past.

Humperdinck rose to fame in the 1960s. In 1967 his cover of Release Me kept The Beatles’ Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever from getting to Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart, ending the Fab Four’s track record of 11 consecutive Number 1 singles.

You can view his full Official Charts history here.