Years & Years' Olly Alexander announced as UK Eurovision representative for 2024

Olly Alexander of the pop band Years & Years will officially represent the UK at Eurovision 2024, it's been announced.

The news broke while Olly appeared live on the Strictly Come Dancing final on BBC One. 

Speaking to Strictly host Claudia Winkleman, the chart-topping Years & Years frontman (and all-round Eurovision fan) Olly said "I love Eurovision so much, it's a dream come true. I'm just so, so excited."

In an official press release, Olly added: "I really can't believe I'm going to be a part of such a special legacy and fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible. I'm determined to give it everything I've got and put on an excellent and unforgettable performance for you all!"

Next year's Eurovision contest will take place in Mälmo, Sweden following Loreen's victory in Liverpool 2023. As usual the song contest will be split into three parts - Semi-Final 1 is scheduled to air May 7 2024, with Semi-Final 2 airing May 9 2023. The Grand Final is scheduled to take place 11 May, broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer. Find out more in our Official Charts guide to Eurovision 2024.

 

 

 

 

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Olly follows in the footsteps of 2022 UK rep Mae Muller - who scored a Top 10 hit with I Wrote A Song but placed second to last - and 2021 hero Sam Ryder, who landed in an incredibly respectable second place in both Eurovision and the Official Singles Chart with SPACE MAN. Sam of course, was sadly pipped to the post at Eurovision 2021 when the Ukraine experienced a swell of support across Europe for representatives Kalush Orchestra and their song Stefania. Sam Ryder did go on to secure a Number 1 debut album later in the year, so all's well that end's well.

Can Olly reverse the UK's Eurovision fortunes once again? He's certainly no stranger to pop success, with 2 Number 1 albums and a Number 1 single already under his belt. Breaking through on the Official Singles Chart in March 2015 with the infectious chart-topping hit King, four months later Years & Years' debut album Communion also landed straight in at Number 1 on the UK's Official Albums Chart. Explore the chart success of all of Years & Years' songs and albums.

Olly Alexander pictured with Years & Years' Official Number 1 Award for Night Call, January 2022.

MORE: See where every UK Eurovision entry landed on The Official Chart.

While last year's UK scores in the city of Liverpool might not have been quite what we hoped for, Eurovision as a whole made a record-breaking impact on the Official Chart in the aftermath of the ceremony. For the first time in 71 years of the Official Chart (and in the Eurovision Song Contest's 67-year history), the week after Eurovision saw four tracks from the contest gatecrash the Top 10 of the Official Singles Chart - the most Eurovision entries in the Official Chart Top 10 simultaneously ever. The flurry of entries were led by two-time contest winner Loreen from Sweden, who scooped a personal best on the UK chart with her winning song Tattoo (2), Finland runner-up Käärijä entered at Number 6 with Cha Cha Cha, while Mae Muller vaulted to Number 9 and Norway's Alessandra completed the line up with Queen Of Kings (10).

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