Olly Alexander is set to represent Great Britain at Eurovision in Sweden 2024, he has confirmed.
The 33-year-old singer and sole remaining member of the synth-pop band Years and Years announced during Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing final that he would be performing for glory in Malmo.
During the episode, Alexander was interviewed by Claudia Winkleman when the host asked if he had news he wanted to share.
“I do Claudia,” he said. “I can exclusively reveal I will be representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.
“What can I tell you? I’m planning it now, it’s going to be spectacular – I love Eurovision so, so, so much, I’m so excited, it’s going to be great.”
Alexander will perform under his own name rather than as Years and Years.
As has been previously reported, Eurovision 2024 will be held in Sweden following Loreen’s victory this year. But who is Olly Alexander and what are his chances?
Who is Olly Alexander?
Alexander is best known as the lead singer of Years and Years, although since 2021 the once pop trio has become a solo project.
The 33-year-old from Harrogate in North Yorkshire is also an accomplished actor and began his career with roles in television dramas and has a part in Gaspar Noe’s psychothriller Enter the Void when he was still a teenager.
He continued acting but things changed from 2010 when Years and Years founder Mikey Goldsworthy, looking for a vocalist, heard Alexander singing in the shower.
Initially starting as a five-piece, the group gained success with musicians Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen playing with Alexander in a trio. Years and Years won BBC's Sound of 2015 poll and single King went to number one in the UK. Debut album Communion followed on before sophomore LP Palo Santo took them to larger heights and arenas with the three playing the O2 Arena in 2018 and Glastonbury a year later.
Alexander took the main role of Ritchie Tozer in the 2021 drama It’s a Sin, which explores the lives of gay men in the 1980s.
Since releasing his third album Night Call as Years and Years last year, Alexander has embarked on a world tour.
Alexander is gay and has been part of a BBC documentary that explores links between his sexuality and mental health disorders.
What song will he sing at Eurovision?
Alexander has not yet shared the name or content of the song he will take to Malmo other than to tell the BBC that it will not be a ballad.
“I wrote the song with Danny Harle, and it'll be coming next year,” he said.
“It's gonna be electronic, something you can dance to. But yeah, I can't say much more than that.”
He added: “I mean, it wasn't gonna be a ballad. Or maybe it could have been a ballad. I love a ballad. Am I saying too much now?
“It's not a ballad.”