Advertisement

Bill Bailey reveals his secret weapon for UK victory at the Eurovision Song Contest

SOUTHWOLD, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Bill Bailey performs during Latitude Festival 2021 at Henham Park on July 25, 2021 in Southwold, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Bill Bailey beleives he has found the secret to winning the Eurovision Song Contest. (Getty Images)

Bill Bailey has revealed he believes the key to winning the Eurovision Song Contest is with a 'moody' entry in the Minor Key.

The comedian, musician and Strictly Come Dancing champion is making a bid to represent the UK in Eurovision 2022, and confessed he is a 'Eurovision nerd' who has studied the secret to winning.

Bailey, 56, told ITV’s Lorraine: "There's lots of things we have to address, the key for example. I'm a bit of a Eurovision nerd - we've been doing these upbeat things in the Major Key.

Read more: Bill Bailey: BBC rejected my Eurovision song for being 'too silly'

"The last 10 winners were all in the Minor Key. We've got to be moody - don't mention heart, don't mention walking."

The UK has come last in the Eurovision Song Contest for the last two years, with the most recent entry, Embers bv James Newman, receiving zero points.

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 21: James Newman of United Kingdom during the 65th Eurovision Song Contest dress rehearsal held at Rotterdam Ahoy on May 21, 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
James Newman earned the UK Nil Point at Eurovision this year. (Getty Images)

Bailey - who has previously written his own version of Happy Birthday in the Minor Key as part of a stand-up comedy routine - admits he does "hope" he might be given a chance to represent the UK in the song contest next year.

He said: "I just think we can d better. Surely we can do better than this."

Bailey previously revealed the BBC had rejected an entry he wrote Eurovision for being too "silly".

He said: "A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a spoof eco anthem in the style of Dad's Army, the BBC said, 'It's too silly, we can't have that.'

Terry Wogan (2nd right) Helps Katrina and the Waves Kimberley Rew (far left), Alex Cooper (blue shirt) Katrina (holding flowers) and Vince de la Cruz (far right) celebrate at Heathrow Airport today (Sunday).  Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest contest last night with the song, Love Shine A Light . Photo by David Giles/PA. See PA story SHOWBIZ Eurovision
Katrina and the Waves were the last victorious UK Eurovision entry in 1997. (PA)

“And I just thought, this taking it seriously, that's not going well either is it?"

The UK last won Eurovision in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves' Love Shine A Light.

Read more: Bill Bailey wasn't asked to return to 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks'

Since then the UK has been placed last five times, and received 'Nil Point' twice - in 2021 and also in 2003 for Jemini's Cry Baby.

The day after the 2021 contest, Bailey tweeted: "I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring for #Eurovision 2022."

Watch: Bill Bailey pay tribute to the late Sean Lock