United Kingdom Final on 26th February

Final to be hosted by Mel Giedroyc

Hosted live from The O2 Forum Kentish Town by self-confessed Eurovision fan Mel Giedroyc, the 90 minute UK Eurovision extravaganza will feature performances by the six competing acts, as well as two previous Eurovision Song Contest winners; Sweden's 2016 winner Måns Zelmerlöw and Katrina Leskanich, from Katrina and the Waves, UK winners in 1997. 

Mel Giedroyc says: “I am a huge fan of the Eurovish and am honoured to be hosting this fantastic event. It’s very exciting that the Great British public will get the chance to choose who will be sent to Sweden and I know it’s going to be an amazing night. I can’t wait to get the party started!”

Also on hand on the night will be an expert panel who will be there to offer their thoughts on how the songs could be made to look and sound on stage in Stockholm.The six songs will be premiered on The Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2 on Monday 22nd February 2016.  

Eurovision: You Decide also heralds the arrival of Eurovision on BBC Four, which in addition to the United Kingdom national song selection show on Friday 26th February, will also broadcast both semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 live from Stockholm.  

Cassian Harrison, Editor, BBC Four, says: “I’m delighted that Eurovision: You Decide and both of the Semi Finals are coming to the channel this year. BBC Four is the home of music on TV in the UK, and as any fan will tell you, Eurovision is one of the biggest music events on the planet and is much more than just one night of TV, therefore it is only right that BBC Four is able to showcase Europe's favourite music TV event right here in the UK.”

How the six songs were shortlisted

The six shortlisted acts that will perform on the night have been chosen from each of three different entry routes. The shortlisted acts will be announced in due course.

The BBC recognises that the fan community is a very important element of the Eurovision Song Contest, therefore invited the UK branch of the OGAE to assist in the shortlisting of the entries sent in by the public. The OGAE is the largest independent Eurovision fan club in the world and its UK branch has around 1,000 members.

In addition, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) ran a song-writing competition amongst its members.

Hugh Goldsmith - former MD of RCA and founder of Innocent Records – acted as Music Consultant to the BBC during the shortlisting process, with principal responsibility for overseeing communication with established record labels, publishers, managers, writers and producers encouraging high-level music industry involvement.

Eurovision: You Decide will be Exec Produced by Guy Freeman and Produced by Helen Riddell. 

Tickets 

The public will also get the chance to attend on the big night as tickets to attend Eurovision: You Decide will go on sale on Friday 22 January at 10am via bbc.co.uk/eurovision

What do you think about the new method for selecting the UK entry. Tell us what you think below?