YEARS & YEARS’ Olly Alexander is the UK’s most high-profile Eurovision entry in more than a decade.
He has had five Top Ten hits, Bafta and Brit nominations and even his own waxwork at Madame Tussauds.
Now Olly will be competing in the most-watched contest in the world this weekend in Malmo, Sweden, with his song Dizzy.
But the road to the final has been a rocky one.
The singer has admitted he was driven to perform by relentless bullying as a child — and now wants to inspire other youngsters with his performance, which will be watched by more than 160million people worldwide.
Olly said: “At school I was picked on and I just felt like something was wrong with me, like I was just different from other people in a way that was really bad.
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“People would make fun of me and call me gay even before I had any idea of my sexuality.
“But music and performing and drama, like, the weirder you were, the more unique you were. It kind of worked in your favour.
“If you stood out, people remembered you, and I’m actually really good at something. I have this secret power. So I really just followed that feeling and I haven’t stopped.”
Olly, 33, will deliver a boxing-themed dystopian performance which he promises will be “really gay” in a bid to promote equality on Saturday.
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Despite already being straight through to the final, you can see him showcase Dizzy in tonight’s first semi-final show, which is broadcast on BBC One at 8pm.
And although Olly will only be on stage for three minutes, he started rehearsals on a slanted stage two months ago with his team of four dancers.
The song was created with top producer Danny L Harle, 34, who recently co-wrote much of Dua Lipa’s new album.
And although Olly will only be on stage for three minutes, he started rehearsals on a slanted stage two months ago with his team of four dancers.
He said: “The power that has — the TV going out into living rooms across the world — feels really big.
“You know, for a lot of people, it’s not safe for them to be themselves, not safe for them to express their sexuality. I’m really lucky that I can, and I can do that in this really big, bold way.”
UK commentator Graham Norton thinks that will do wonders for his chances, although Baby Lasagna for Croatia is the favourite to win.
Graham said: “Having a bona fide pop star representing the UK this year is a great start.
“Olly has already done all the things that it’s impossible to prepare someone for.
“He has played to huge crowds, he can relate to the cameras and he is used to high-pressure situations.
“Add to that the fact the song is a massive bop, and I think we could do really well this year.”
But despite it being an occasion of bonkers, brilliant and beautiful pop, this year’s contest has run into geopolitical controversy due to Israel taking part.
Many fans have called for their entry to be disqualified because of the conflict in Gaza, maintaining they should suffer the same fate as Russia, which has been excluded since 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine.
But the acts themselves are now facing abuse for not withdrawing from the contest in solidarity with Palestine, with campaigners even picketing a performance from Olly in London last month.
Eurovision bit
DESPITE it being 50 years since ABBA won with Waterloo, when the contest was staged in Brighton, the four members won’t be reuniting on stage at the final.
But the contest’s scriptwriter Edward af Sillen has teased there will be a treat for fans.
He told the official Eurovision podcast: “We have a surprise coming up for the final, which I can’t get into now.
“If you know Sweden and you know ABBA, you know you can’t get the four of them together again.”
In a new BBC documentary, Olly Alexander’s Road To Eurovision, the singer cried as he explained: “A lot of the contestants and myself have been having a lot of comments that are like, ‘You are complicit in a genocide by taking part in Eurovision’. Which is quite extreme . . . it’s very extreme. I understand where that sentiment is coming from but I think it’s not correct.
“It’s an incredibly complicated political situation, one that I’m not qualified to speak on.
“The backdrop to this is actual immense suffering. It’s like a humanitarian crisis, a war, you know? And it just so happens there’s a song contest going on at the same time, that I’m a part of.
“Eurovision is meant to be an apolitical contest but that’s like a fantasy.”
As a left-wing, gay pop star, the woke generation would usually support Olly, but many of them have even turned on him.
He added: “I deleted all my social media because the comments are just so insane. There’s a lot of love and support but there’s a lot of . . . they are brutal.”
More than 20,000 protesters are expected to picket events in the lead-up to the final this week in Malmo, and Olly has been given a private security team as a precaution.
The Israeli act, Eden Golan, 20, has been warned not to leave her hotel room other than for her performance.
‘Brutal comments’
And the terror threat is now so high that Swedish police have asked for help from neighbouring countries Denmark and Norway.
All bags of any size have been banned from Malmo Arena and drone-mounted cameras will be used to monitor crowds.
But Olly is keeping his head down and powering on, as he has done throughout his time in the spotlight.
He formed his band Years & Years in 2010 with mates Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen.
They had huge hits such as Shine and King on their 2015 debut album, Communion.
But the trio faced creative differences making their 2018 follow-up Palo Santo and in 2021 it was announced his bandmates had quit and he was continuing the band as a solo project.
Olly then went on to acting, playing Ritchie Tozer in 2021’s Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin.
The heart-wrenching series, following a group of gay men during the HIV/AIDS crisis in London, was critically acclaimed.
However, fearing any subsequent role could not live up to the plaudits, Olly returned to music.
He released one more album, 2022’s Night Call under the name Years & Years before moving to performing under his own name.
And, having not entered the Top Ten in six years, despite collaborations with Kylie Minogue and Sir Elton John, a lot is riding on this Eurovision performance.
It is fair to say the UK does not have a great track record at the contest, finishing bottom in 2019 and 2021, then ending up 25th out of 26 last year.
Last chance saloon
But in 2022 there was the whirlwind success story of Sam Ryder, who placed second with his song Space Man — our best result in 24 years.
Bookmakers Coral are currently saying the UK is 50-1 to win, with odds of 8-1 to finish last and 16-1 to score the dreaded nul points.
And Olly doesn’t sound too confident either.
He said: “I’m probably not going to win.
“The performance is challenging so success will be not falling over and managing to hit the high note.”
But it does risk being something of a last-chance saloon for Olly, because an embarrassment at the contest can make you a pariah in the industry.
People would make fun of me and call me gay even before I had any idea of my sexuality. But music and performing and drama, whatever, like, the weirder you were, the more unique you were. It kind of worked in your favour
Olly Alexander
In 2022, his European tour was cancelled amid underwhelming ticket sales and he has admitted he needs some new life pumped into his career.
On why he is taking part, he said: “I’m ten years into my music career and I haven’t had a big hit for a while. I’m not Dua Lipa — I’m not streaming crazy amounts. This is a route to lots of people hearing your song. I think that’s really helpful.”
There have been moments of self-doubt, too, but he is trying to put those thoughts to the back of his head.
He said: “I still feel though sometimes, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do it, it’s all going to go terribly wrong.
“‘I’m just the wrong person to be here, like oh my God’, you know what I mean?
“But I actually can do it and I get this amazing platform so I’m just going to make sure I get out there and do a really good job.”
It is almost show time. Do us proud, Olly.
Eurovision bit
REIGNING champion Loreen will return to the stage at the grand final to give a special performance.
The singer, who is the only woman to have won the contest twice, said: “I’m elated to grace the Eurovision final stage in Malmo this year. It’s bound to be a deeply emotional journey.
“Your unwavering support always leaves me spellbound.
“This performance is my sincere tribute to the cherished community and fans who shower me with love. Consider it my heartfelt gift to you all.”
7 acts to watch
CROATIA: Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim. Odds: 13/8 favourite
RIDICULOUSLY catchy.
All about leaving your small hometown as he sings: “I’m a big boy now, I’m going away and I sold my cow.”
Although it is inspired by folk music in Croatia, Baby Lasagna, whose real name is Marko Purisic, sings the track in front of a backdrop of neon dancing cats.
IRELAND: Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue. Odds: 8/1
WACKY enough to win over new fans. Bambie claims to be a witch and sings about casting spells in the track, which veers from screamo rock to soft and soothing vocals in the chorus alone.
On stage, Bambie is surrounded by a ring of candles and dances with a man dressed as a dark devil.
FINLAND: Windows 95 Man – No Rules! Odds: 100/1
AN outsider for the crown but will definitely bring a smile. Despite the name, the act is actually a duo.
Frontman Teemu Keisteri, known for his trademark denim hotpants, will be dancing and singing with fireworks strapped to him.
Keen not to be upstaged, his bandmate emerges from a gigantic denim egg, naturally.
ALBANIA: Besa – Titan. Odds: 200/1
A BEAUTIFUL mid-tempo number but as the second act to perform on Thursday, she has a fight on her hands.
It is famously unlucky to be one of the first to sing, but hopefully people won’t have forgotten about her by the time it comes to the voting.
ITALY: Angelina Mango – La Noia. Odds: 5/1
AT 23, she is one of the youngest participants but her song is a crowd pleaser which will get the whole arena dancing.
She sings in Italian but it is inspired by Latin American folk music and also raps on the track.
FRANCE: Slimane – Mon Amour. Odds: 12/1
THE inevitable heartfelt ballad – and it is a really good one.
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Expected to be the favourite among the music juries but might get lost in the public vote due to simple staging singing alone on a smoky platform.
NETHERLANDS: Joost Klein – Europapa. Odds: 12/1
HAPPY hardcore tune has been a smash hit in the Netherlands.
Visually, it will stick in viewers’ minds too, thanks to Joost’s gigantic shoulder pads, and his best mate on stage who is dressed as an enormous blue bird.
How it works
AS one of the “Big Five” contributors to the European Broadcasting Union, the UK has already qualified for the final alongside acts for France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
As last year’s winners, Sweden is also automatically through.
But the remaining 31 nations will battle it out in semi-finals for 20 places in Saturday’s show.
The first semi will be broadcast live on BBC One at 8pm tonight, with the second on Thursday, also on BBC One at 8pm.
But viewers will still get a chance to see Olly’s performance before Saturday, as he will showcase his song Dizzy during tonight’s show.
