ESC Today:

 

The BBC will bring a complete overhaul to the United Kingdom's Eurovision Song Contest selection in 2009. Amongst the planned changes are the replacement of Terry Wogan with Graham Norton as host of the selection shows, a multi-week format and the most prominant name in musical theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, as a lead judge. esctoday.com believes that he will also write the song that the winner will take to Moscow to represent the country.

 

The format of the United Kingdom's new selection show is set to follow the successful series such as How do you solve a problem like Maria, Any dream will do and I'd do anything. In the shows, 12 candidates each completed for a lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber stage productions (The sound of music, Joseph and the amazing technocolour dreamcoat and Oliver! respectively). The shows have all been ratings hits and have won several television awards.

 

In today's Sun and Telegraph newspapers, a BBC insider is said to have stated: "Millions of Brits watch the Eurovision but always leave disappointed that we’ve done so badly...So next year we’re going all out. Graham’s been drafted in to host and Lord Andrew will give his important input, possibly as part of a panel or as a mentor. There is likely to be a public voting element to it as well. Next year really could be the year Britain comes out on top.”

 

With the newly annouced changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting, and the return of the juries to form part of the voting process, the BBC will feel that they have a real chance to make an impact on the voting board after years of what has been perceived as underachievement due to the voting patterns across the continent.

 

Earlier this year, Andrew Lloyd Webber went on record to say that following the success of the first three shows, he will wait until 2010 before doing the next one to select a performer for a stage show. That leaves the spring schedules clear to create a show along the same format that can be used to find the United Kingdom's Eurovision Song Contest entry.

 

With John Barrowman amongst the Lord Andrew show judges as well as a pundit and judge in recent British national finals, it seems increasingly likely that the BBC are set to take a highly successful show and use it as the basis of selecting their next Eurovision Song Contest representative, perhaps in a show titled How do you solve a problem like Eurovision after recent results in the competition (also touted as the title of the 2008 national final by several newspapers).

 

:cheer:

Good to know. I really hope we choose a good entry this year.

I don't get it really...it won't be like Melodifestivalen will it where there are a number of artists all with different songs?

 

it seems that a song will be prepared by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and then we pick a singer to sing it for us...

 

so it will be just like X Factor, and the winning song will be like the 'winner's single'

 

with all this hype the single will probably be a sizeable hit in the UK, well if Lee Mead could get to No.2 anyway! I think it's potentially a good thing for the UK having such a good songwriter on board, but I hope we still get to select the song as well, rather than just selecting an artist to sing a song

I would've thought there will be a number of songs tbh... perhaps it'll be like Spain's when Nash won and a few artists all sung the same song? Either way, it's far better than the current MYMU format.

It's an improvement and will keep interest in the Contest up, but we will most likely end up with a great singer singing a terrible song.

 

It is a reality TV talent show first and foremost, and so will end up with a goo-ey "uplifting" ballad for the winner to sing that will be completely inappropriate for Eurovision.

IM liking the half jury and hald public vote in the actual eurovision itself though

Yes but it won't be much use if we send a dire song again

I think it's a good idea in theory. By making it a 'series', it might make people care a bit more, and thus put a bit more thought into song selection.

 

But, I don't trust the viewers one dot. As long as the public are convinced that $h!t pop makes a successful Eurovision entry, no public selection will work. Internal selection is the only option, aside from all potential acts singing the same song, and only trusting the public to choose a not-dire performer. But, if there are any ex-reality TV acts, they'll win by a mile, since we've been represented by an ex-pop idol'er etc 4 times in the last 6 years.

I think by the sounds of it, the public will only be responsible for choosing the act.

I think by the sounds of it, the public will only be responsible for choosing the act.

 

Thank Heavens for small mercies.

 

Thank Heavens for small mercies.

 

Considering Andrew Lloyd-Webber's last crack at the Euro-whip was back in 1969, I wouldn't hold your breath for much of a song.

Considering Andrew Lloyd-Webber's last crack at the Euro-whip was back in 1969, I wouldn't hold your breath for much of a song.

 

Whatever he throws together, has GOT to be better than Flying The Flag. I refuse to believe otherwise :lol:

Whatever he throws together, has GOT to be better than Flying The Flag. I refuse to believe otherwise :lol:

 

Well probably. But it will be no "Shady Lady" that's for sure.

We need a fantastic singer - check, this will almost certainly get us one. But Andy Abraham was a fantastic singer. What we need is someone from pop with actual credibility for getting us our Shady Lady...

we need Xenomania, not Andrew Lloyd-Webber :kink:

Great format, but I'm still on the fence of the show.

 

Since Eurovsion is usually around May, I can see this starting as a weekly format towards mid Feb, which gives probably 7-9 shows, and than all the promo before the actual event starts.

we need Xenomania, not Andrew Lloyd-Webber :kink:

That's actually EXACTLY what I was thinking! :lol:

Let's keep the faith though!

 

Andrew Lloyd-Webber can compose a damn good tune, and I think as long as it has a good lyricist, and a great producer then we could still have a good song on our hands.

I can just see the name of the BBC programme now:

 

"How Do You Solve A Problem Like Eurovision". :no:

 

Damn, I knew I should have copyrighted the concept. :D

 

In all seriousness, I'm sure didn't ALW criticise the selection of Scooch ahead of Cyndi before that year's ESC, and said that the public were out of touch with what makes a good/successful ESC song?

 

Put it this way he has definitely had a couple of digs at John Barrowman on How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, and I'd Do Anything about that when they've disagreed over a singers ability.

 

Damn, I knew I should have copyrighted the concept. :D

 

In all seriousness, I'm sure didn't ALW criticise the selection of Scooch ahead of Cyndi before that year's ESC, and said that the public were out of touch with what makes a good/successful ESC song?

 

Put it this way he has definitely had a couple of digs at John Barrowman on How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, and I'd Do Anything about that when they've disagreed over a singers ability.

 

That's good to know because I was quite worried John Barrowman, who will quite obviously be involved in this show, would be whispering in the Lord's ear about needing "A Eurovision song, not a pop song"

 

Feck off Barrowman