The BBC has decided to remove the public's ability to choose the UK's Eurovision entry, following a string of poor performances by publicly selected acts. Instead, the 2020 entry will be chosen internally by record label BMG and unveiled by presenter Graham Norton on Thursday morning.
Norton will reveal the singer and song on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2, marking a shift from the last four years when viewers selected the act. The UK's recent entries have fared badly, with Michael Rice finishing last in 2019 with just 11 points, and three of the last four finishing in the bottom two.
BMG, which represents artists like Lewis Capaldi and George Ezra, was tasked with finding a song with broad international appeal and a singer embodying Eurovision's spirit. However, the BBC's previous internal selections have yielded mixed results, with only Blue's 2011 entry achieving notable success.
The UK automatically qualifies for the final due to its financial contribution, but faces challenges including political voting and its recent departure from the European Union. The contest takes place in Rotterdam in May.
