James Newman flying the flag for the United Kingdom

The multi-platinum selling, Grammy-nominated Yorkshireman had been due to compete in 2020 with his anthemic track My Last Breath. Newman will now reveal his brand new bop in March.

James explains his eagerness to take to Europe's biggest stage:

“I’m so excited and honoured to be getting a second chance at representing my country in the Eurovision Song Contest. I haven’t stopped making new music in lockdown and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the song I’m taking to Eurovision in 2021.”

Jo Wallace, Acting Controller of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC, adds:

“We are so pleased to have James back with us and representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2021. After 2020 and the cancellation of the 65th Contest, Eurovision is exactly what everyone needs!”

The BBC also announced a renewed collaboration between BBC Studios and record company BMG; the latter will release and publish the United Kingdom's entry, while BBC Studios will produce the UK's coverage of the world's most watched song competition.

As well as being cheered on by his fans, friends, family and the rest of Team Newman, James can also count on the support of one particularly furry devotee... his pet rabbit Brick.

About James Newman

James Newman is a multi-platinum selling, Brit Award-winning and Grammy-nominated songwriter. The artist won a Brit for co-writing the British Single of the Year Waiting All Night, performed by Rudimental and Ella Eyre. It was James’ first UK Number 1 single in 2013.

It wasn’t long before he co-wrote another UK chart-topper, Blame, this time for Calvin Harris and his younger brother John Newman. The song was a massive hit in several countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Mexico.

Yorkshire-born Newman has worked with many famous artists over the years, including Ed Sheeran who recorded the vocals for Lay It All On Me, a certified platinum single in the UK and US. The sing-songwriter has also been nominated for a Grammy twice, co-writing Coping from Toni Braxton’s album Sex & Cigarettes, and Let ‘Em Talk from Kesha’s album Rainbow.

At the beginning of 2020, James recorded his previous Eurovision entry My Last Breath in Scotland while he was staying on a loch (lake) with fellow songwriters Ed Drewett, Iain James and Adam Argyle. James released his debut EP ‘The Things We Do’ in Summer 2020 and ended the year with another new collaboration with Armin Van Buuren, ‘Slow Lane’.

The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest

The United Kingdom made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1957. To date, the UK has won the Eurovision Song Contest 5 times and hosted the event on 8 occasions (stepping in to stage the show when others were unable to do so). On top of this, the competition stalwarts hold the record for finishing second, taking the runner-up spot an impressive (and perhaps frustrating) 15 times.

The UK last hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 in Birmingham following Katrina and the Waves' victory with Love Shine A Light. Can James bring the trophy back to “Blighty” this year so the BBC can host a 9th show?