Exclusive: Freya Ridings counts herself out as the UK's Eurovision 2023 entry: "I'm not! I promise you I'm really not!"

In an exclusive chat with OfficialCharts.com, Freya Ridings has put an end to speculation that she is one of the artists in contention to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. 

In recent weeks, the rumour mill has been going to overdrive trying to guess the identity of the artist who will be following in Sam Ryder's footsteps and performing in Liverpool this May.

So far, a few names have recurred more often that many others; Freya Ridings, Rina Sawayama and Birdy - all acclompished British singer-songwriters who know their way from one end of a pop to the other.

But now Freya - whose recent single, the disco-stomper Weekends just became her first UK Top 40 single in over three years - has clarified her position.

And, sorry, Eurovision fans, but she's not doing it. 

MORE: The Official Charts guide to Eurovision 2023

"I'm not doing it!" She tells us via Zoom today. "I'm really not!"

Freya then goes on to explain that part of the confusion came about from her performing Weekends on the last episode of the current season of The Graham Norton Show, the slot normally reserved for that year's UK Eurovision entry, since Graham is the UK's long-time commentator for the competition.

But! It turns out this is all just a happy coincidence. 

"Graham Norton was really kind to me," she elaborates, "but he gave me [that slot] because he knows I'm an indie artist and he's really championed me. But then it looked like I was [doing Eurovision]. But I'm not!"

Freya also admits that her current singles swooning disco beats were heavily inspired by Eurovision legends ABBA (and that thoughts the song could potentially be a perfect fit for the UK's act are "so kind"), but it wasn't made with the competition in mind.

"That's an amazing [thing to say]," she continues, "but it's not. I love Eurovision, me and my family watch every year but it's not [...] it was never my ultimate goal in life.

"But I do massively respect it and you see [last year's entry] Sam Ryder [doing so well] he's stunning, I'm in awe of him. I'm actually really excited that people think that I'm doing it. But I'm not!"

So, there we have it. The search continues...

This is still a massively exciting time for Freya, though, who after a few years away following her Top 3 debut album in 2019 is ready to launch her sophomore album, Blood Orange. 

Stay tuned on OfficialCharts.com for an exclusive chat with Freya tomorrow about the success of Weekends, the story behind the hit and what fans can expect from her most dynamic and personal album yet.

Weekends by Freya Ridings is out now via Good Solider/AWAL. Freya's second album Blood Orange follows May 5.