It’s a snub... dismay of It’s A Sin star Olly after he was overlooked for UK’s entry
THE BBC has been accused of overlooking chart-topping TV star Olly Alexander as Britain’s Eurovision entrant due to a ‘grossly unfair’ deal with the contest’s selectors.
The Mail on Sunday has learned the lead singer of the band Years & Years put himself forward to represent the nation in this year’s competition.
But the artist, 31, who received widespread acclaim for his role in Channel 4’s HIV drama It’s A Sin, was ‘dismayed’ after learning only stars selected by the London management company TaP were eligible for selection.
The Corporation’s deal appointing TaP to lead the search for the UK contestant meant that Alexander, who is signed to Polydor, was not considered. Instead, TikTok star Sam Ryder headed to Italy for last night’s final.
One music manager said: ‘With his stage presence and personality he [Olly] would have been a great choice.
‘It’s fair to say he was left quite deflated. I don’t think they will use the same methods again because it is grossly unfair. The only reassuring thing is that Olly has been told he stands a good chance of being selected if he puts his name forward next year, as long as the rules change.’
TaP helped catapult British singer Dua Lipa to global stardom before she parted ways with the firm in February. Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Ray and Cruz Beckham are also signed to them.
TaP owner Ben Mawson, who has two children with the host of Austria’s 2015 Eurovision show Mirjam Weichselbraun, was selected as the BBC’s Eurovision collaborator after pitching a documentary about Britain’s attitude to the competition. He told NME magazine: ‘I remember thinking, “Why do we do so badly every year? Is it political, or is there more to it than that?”’
BBC Studios, the corporation’s commercial arm, began partnering with music firms in 2019, having formerly selected songs through a talent show.