It’s been a while since the UK were crowned Eurovision champions – 22 years, in fact, since Katrina and the Waves last won us the trophy back in 1997.
And this year the country’s hopes of scoring its sixth victory in the annual pan-continental singing event rest with Michael Rice, and his anthemic ballad Bigger Than Us.
The song has already won the backing of former Eurovision winner Mans Zelmerlow – but just who is Michael, and how is he best known pre-Eurovision?
Here’s what you need to know.
Who is the UK’s 2019 Eurovision entrant Michael Rice?
Michael, 21, was born on 25 October 1997 in Hartlepool.
He began singing as a youngster when he went busking with his grandmother, and first made his bid for stardom when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2014, getting as far as bootcamp before being eliminated.
However he enjoyed greater success when he went on to the BBC show All Together Now – winning the series in 2018.
He nabbed himself a £50,000 prize for winning the series – putting much of it towards his mum’s waffle shop The Waffle and Crepe Shack in his home town.
Michael is currently working on his debut EP.
When did he win the chance to represent the UK at Eurovision?
Michael won the ticket to Tel Aviv at Eurovision You Decide back in February of this year.
This year’s format featured six artists singing and three songs – with two different interpretations of each song, each performed by a different artist.
Michael’s version of Bigger Then Us triumphed over a more uptempo version by former X Factor finalist Holly Tandy – and went on to win You Decide over two other songs, following the public vote.
The song was co-written by John Lundvik, who is representing Sweden at this year’s Eurovision with another of his songs, Too Late For Love.
When is the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 and where is it being held?
This year’s song contest takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel, following their victory at the 2018 contest in Lisbon with Netta’s song Toy.
The semi-finals take place on Tuesday 14 May and Thursday 16 May, with 10 countries from each qualifying to the grand final on Saturday 18 May.
As one of the main financiers of the contest the UK is automatically qualified to the final along with France, Spain, Germany and Italy – and the host nation, Israel.
The semi-finals will be on BBC Four on 14 May and 18 May at 8pm.
The grand final is on BBC One on Saturday 18 May from 8pm.
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