Big news from the UK: the Head of Entertainment at the BBC has confirmed that, after huge ratings success, the semi finals will continue to be aired on BBC One in 2024.

Previously they had been aired on the broadcaster’s smaller channels, BBC Three and BBC Four. Riding high on host country hype, they chose to raise the profile of the semi final shows this year –  and it seems the decision paid off.

The announcement comes paired with some suggestions about how the UK might select their song in 2024, as per this statement from the BBC Entertainment boss:

It has been really good working with Tap, actually, and using their expertise. We have had two amazing finalists and the British public have gotten behind them. Sam Ryder is a proper superstar now. This year’s entry has been in the top ten and done really well.

People have talked to me ‘should we do a big show on the BBC, how do we select our next act?’ It is a big thing singing live in those giant arenas, and you do need a really experienced performer who has done arena shows before to do that. I think we will continue going to specialists in the industry to help us pick our act going forward.”

After recently announcing an end to their partnership with TaP music – the label behind the UK’s two previous entries, Sam Ryder and Mae Muller – many have been speculating over whether or not the BBC might opt for a national selection in 2024. The last time a song was selected in this way was in 2019, with Michael Rice’s ‘Bigger Than Us’ earning its place on the Eurovision stage when he won Eurovision: You Decide. 

Now, it seems likely that the BBC will continue to rely on music professionals to select their entries. With Sam Ryder’s strong second place finish in 2022, who can blame them?

How would you like to see the UK choose its song for 2024? Let us know!