Duncan James: 'Eurovision was a big decision!'

Duncan James: 'Eurovision was a big decision!'
Duncan James: 'Eurovision was a big decision!' (Image credit: BBC)

Blue will be flying the flag for the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14 and their journey can be seen in a documentary this week. Duncan James tells us more... There's a lot of stigma attached to Eurovision - why did you agree to do it? "Yes, it was a massive decision for us to make, but we saw it that we'd been asked to represent our country and it just felt right. Once we'd made a decision, we were 100 per cent excited about it and we're just pleased to be representing." This is the first time the UK is sending an established act to the finals - do you hope this will boost your chances of winning votes? "We didn't have a great entry last year, we came last, so the BBC wanted to change things and have an established act representing the UK. We were a big, established band in Europe and this is the biggest television programme in Europe, which goes out to an audience of 125 million people. We just feel privileged to be asked." In the documentary, you are given advice from some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Robin Gibb... "Robin told us he hasn't really supported Eurovision in recent years but that, this year, he feels the UK is putting forward an established act that's got a really good chance and said he'll be watching. To hear that from someone like Robin Gibb was a real honour." As May 14 gets closer, what do you make of Blue's chances? "People say the UK isn't particularly liked in Europe and that that's why we get 'nul point'. But Blue has always had success in Europe and I believe that if you have a great song and perform well, politics shouldn't get in the way." *Eurovision: Your Country Needs Blue is on Saturday, April 16 on BBC1

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Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.