The UK’s national broadcaster has just started an open call for songs to take part in their national selection for Eurovision 2018 – “Eurovision: You Decide”.

BBC has started an open call for songs for Eurovision 2018, and the process is going to be the same as last year – all submitted entries in the open call will be shortlisted by a panel of the official UK Eurovision Fan Club (OGAE UK) members. At the same time, entries will also be sought from leading professional songwriters, with guidance from Record Industry Executive and Music Consultant for the BBC, Hugh Goldsmith. He stated:

Eurovision in Lisbon 2018 promises to be yet another fantastic show and I’m determined that we, the UK, are able to build on our excellent showing of 2017 thanks to Lucie Jones’ superlative performance of the powerful ballad, Never Give Up On You. To this end I am, again, looking for songs with emotive lyrics, memorable melodies and brilliant productions. However, success at Eurovision can also be about originality and the element of surprise. So, please also send us your songs if they are creatively fresh, brave and a little bit different!

Guy Freeman, Editor, BBC Special Events and Formats added:

For anyone out there who thinks they have a brilliant song that can resonate with millions of people around the world and the 2018 jurors this is your chance and we’d love to hear from you.

Apart from the standard Eurovision rules, BBC has implemented the following rules into their selection process:

• Composers and songwriters may only submit one entry,
• The closing date for entries is Friday 27th October 2017,
• The BBC reserves the right to use a performer of its choice for any song submitted for consideration. Employees of the BBC and EBU or their close relatives or anyone connected with the contest are not eligible to enter,
• To register your interest in representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, please email the title of your song, the name of your artist(s) and the name of your composer(s) to the following email address: BBCEurovisionSubmissions@bbc.co.uk. Please do not attach your video to the email. Within 72 hours of sending the email you will receive instructions on how to upload your video to the BBC Eurovision portal.

A final shortlist of songs, from either route of entry, will again be showcased to TV viewers, who will have the chance to vote for their favourite in Eurovision: You Decide, details of which will be announced later in the year.