I’m not thinking about Brexit, says UK Eurovision entrant as she prepares for Kiev final
SINGER Lucie Jones has told how she will be keeping Brexit and European politics firmly out of her mind as she represents the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest this week.
The former X Factor hopeful said she would be focusing on her own performance as she takes part in the first competition since the EU referendum.
The semi-finals will air tonight and Thursday from host city Kiev in Ukraine followed by the big final showdown on Saturday night.
As the UK is one of the “big five” countries that qualify for the Grand Final automatically, Jones will not need to take part in one of the early legs in Ukraine.
“I am really not thinking about Brexit,” said Jones (26).
“There is this political vote every year that people talk about and, yes, this year is slightly different with the sort of political climate going on, but it is something I am not concentrating on.
“It’s out of my hands so there is no point in worrying or thinking about it, I am just letting it pass me by.”
Her comments came weeks after Russia pulled out of the contest, following a move by Ukranian authorities to ban entrant Julia Samoylova because of her previous tour in Crimea.
But Jones insisted that there were no grudges or hard feelings among remaining performers.
“I’ve met a number of the contestants and they are all great, there are no ego battles, it’s just a real laugh and there’s always people singing. It’s like being in a theatre show,” she said.
The Welsh-born singer will be performing Never Give Up On You, a track co-written by former Eurovision entrant Emmelie de Forest, The Treatment and songwriter Lawrie Martin.
The first semi-final airs tonight on BBC Four at 8pm.