In mid-October 2021, it was announced by the BBC that they would be collaborating with record label TaP Music to select the UK’s representative for Eurovision 2022 in Turin, which prompted an influx of support from such top artists Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John and Mel C.

Earlier today, the label provided MusicWeek with some more information about the selection process:

“For many years, we’ve witnessed the United Kingdom not doing as well as we would’ve liked, when pop music is something we usually excel at. The simple fact is it’s time to show what we can do and the wonderful musical talent we have – ultimately we can’t blame politics.

We’re getting really close to making our final decision, we have lots of options and have been pleasantly surprised by how many wonderful artists, both new and more established want to be part of this process with us. Like us, they recognise that Eurovision is the biggest music TV opportunity in the world. It’s a tough decision with so many strong contenders, many with existing European fanbases, which is exciting. When we decide on the act, we will put an incredible team around the chosen act and look forward to sharing news shortly.

It’s been fantastic to work so closely with the BBC on this project so far, in particular Radio1 and Scott Mills – who’s offered incredible insight and has been a major part of the team. Radio 1 – the voice of youth culture – is vital to the Eurovision audience which as we know is skewing younger every year. It’s really important to us that this year’s Eurovision has the feel good factor, we want everyone to get behind the act, enjoy the show and hopefully celebrate a great U.K. performance on the night.”

Ben Mawson, TaP Music, quoted in MusicWeek, 25th January 2022

“The challenge has been finding a talent that has both an incredible voice – because live vocals to 200 million people is no easy feat – as well as having incredible stage presence and an unforgettable song – it is a Song Contest after all. The reason we want to do this, whether our act tops the leaderboard or not, is to do something special on stage that the UK can be proud of.”

Ed Millett, TaP Music, quoted in MusicWeek, 25th January 2022

While, ultimately, the shortlist is still a secret, and probably will be until the artist announcement, which still does not yet have a date, hearing news like this in January will probably come as a welcome surprise to UK-based fans, who are perhaps not used to this level of interest in the Contest from their own country.

Further messages of support have come in from such music heavyweights as Nile Rodgers, Lana del Rey, Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix (who is signed to TaP and has been identified by several sites as a rumoured candidate) and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, who wrote the UK’s entry in 2009 It’s My Time for Jade Ewen, winner of the UK’s selection process “Eurovision: Your Country Needs You”, who came 5th in Moscow, the UK’s second-best result of the decade.

He commented: “The Eurovision Song Contest was originally meant to be a celebration of songs and songwriters. I’m glad Tap have the desire to follow in this path and I really hope this year the British entry rediscovers those basics, and we find a great British song delivered by a Great British singer.”

Frankly, any result where the UK clinches a single point from either the jury or televote will be better than their performance in Rotterdam, where James Newman picked up doughnuts across the board in the Grand Final for his song Embers.

Who would you like to see represent the UK? Do you think TaP will do a good job? Let us know in the comments and on social media.