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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Rylan says he would represent the UK at Eurovision as he reveals surprising link and 'downside' to being the host nation

TV and radio presenter Rylan Clark says he'd be up for representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest. Rylan, who will present Radio 2's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 grand final on Saturday May 13 at Liverpool Arena with Scott Mills, spoke of his excitement about the event which will see singer-songwriter Mae Muller fly the flag for the UK with her track I Wrote A Song.

The UK is hosting the 2023 event on behalf of the 2022 winners, Ukraine. Former X Factor finalist Rylan was asked at the Eurovision media launch, held at The British Music Experience in Liverpool, if he would represent the UK one year and what his act would look like.

Rylan, who finished in fifth place on the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012, and the following year won Celebrity Big Brother, replied immediately: "Yes, and I'm not giving away my secrets."

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And he's determined to get up and perform with Jemini will be performing on Friday May 12 at the EuroClub, one of the Eurovision peripheral event. The Liverpudlian pop band famously scored nul points and finished in last place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with Cry Baby.

The 34-year-old, who recently announced that he was quitting Strictly Come Dancing BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two, joked that the 'downside' of being the host nation is that he won't be able to hit the town unrecognised.

(left to right) Mel Giedroyc, Scott Mills, Rylan, and Sam Quek, during the BBC Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Media Launch, at the British Music Experience in Liverpool (PA)

"I love Liverpool. I love the city. We're so excited and we feel so welcome," he said. "The only downside to the UK being the host nation this year is that I can't get away with what I normally do," he quipped.

Scott told him: "Wherever we normally go there's always British Eurovision fans there anyway." But Rylan joked: "Yeah but they normally leave me be."

The star revealed that he has a surprising special link with the arena. "My X Factor boot camp was in that arena and then I went on tour in that arena so I've got a lot of special memories," he said.

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