Final Line Up for Your Country Needs You! Announced
Britain is one step closer to deciding who will represent it at the Eurovision song contest in Oslo.
The final six contestants for Your Country Needs You! have been announced by the BBC. There are four solo singers, one all-girl trio and a five-piece group all vying for the title.
The six acts shortlisted are are 2009 X Factor hopefuls Miss Fitz, Austrian singer Esma, solo singers Alexis, Josh and Karen, and pop group Uni5.
They'll all be performing on the BBC1 show, which is hosted by Graham Norton this Friday hoping to be crowned the British Eurovision song contest representative for 2010. They'll have to impress the show's judges which include last year's UK entrant Jade Ewen, Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli and Pete Waterman, who will be producing this year's Eurovision song with Mike Stock.
In a statement Pete Waterman said: "So far we've got the song and we've got six acts – now all we're waiting for is the public to get behind the search for the UK entry and then we can really get to work."
While host Graham Norton reckons Pete Waterman is the man for the job saying “If any man can second guess European musical tastes surely that man is Pete Waterman. I can’t wait to get to Oslo and see the competition. Fingers crossed we can build on last year’s success. Here’s to all the usual fun, glamour, and madness of Eurovision, this year with the added extra of a faint whiff of pickled herring.”
Last year Jade Ewen came fifth in last year's Eurovision with her rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren's 'It's My Time'. She'll be joined by her fellow Sugababes to perform their latest single on the show,
After hearing the line up William Hill pushed the price of the UK winning the Eurovision Song Contest from 25/1 to 33/1. William Hill spokesman said of the selection "The finalists do not look too inspiring and the UK has just made a hard job look impossible."
Meanwhile, Paddy Power reckon professional singer Josh Dubovie is the favourite to win with odds of 7/4, Karen Hardy is priced at 5/2, Alex Gerred at 4/1, UNI5 at 6/8 and Esma Akkilic at 8/1.
The Eurovision song contest final is due to take place in Oslo on May 29th.
All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
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