The BBC has pushed back against claims that a UK Eurovision act was axed over past ‘unacceptable comments and behaviour’.
The annual song contest returns this May in Vienna, Austria and has already faced trouble after several countries, including Ireland and Spain, dropped out following the EBU ruling to maintain Israel’s involvement.
The UK performer is yet to be announced, but there had been speculation that an act lined up to represent the country was ‘secretly axed’ from the position.
This reportedly happened after a routine background check flagged concerning historic online comments.
Set to be announced this Spring, The Sun claimed the BBC had been scrambling for a last-minute replacement.
Now, however, a BBC spokesperson has told Metro: ‘A rigorous due diligence process is always undertaken before an Act is offered the opportunity to represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision.
‘We will be announcing this year’s chosen act shortly. For the avoidance of doubt, the UK act was not “axed”.’
Last year’s UK representative was the girl group Remember Monday, with the song What the Hell Just Happened and ultimately came in 19th place.
Meanwhile, the 2024 winner, Nemo, announced in December that he planned to return his trophy to the EBU headquarters in Geneva following the decision to keep Israel involved in this year’s competition.
In a statement, the Swiss singer wrote: ‘Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me.
‘But Israel’s continued participation, during what the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decision made by the EBU.’
They concluded the statement: ‘If the values we celebrate onstage aren’t lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs lose their meaning. I’m waiting for the moment those words and actions align. Until then, the trophy is yours.’
The winner in 1994, Irish star Charlie McGettigan, later joined Nemo by sharing his decision to also return his trophy if he managed to find it.
Elsewhere, 2023 Israeli entrant, Noa Kirel, called the decision to boycott the competition over Israel’s inclusion ‘antisemitic’.
‘Honestly, I am deeply disappointed by this decision because Eurovision is a bridge, it is not a wall.
‘And the heart of this competition is connecting hearts through music. And unfortunately, some countries are letting politics ruin the celebration,’ she told BBC’s This World Tonight programme.
Metro has reached out to BBC for comment.
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