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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Singing sensation Sam Ryder sets sights on finding UK's next Eurovision entry

Eurovision legend Sam Ryder is up for helping find the next big star to represent the U.K at the annual singing competition.

The Space Man singer, 32, was speaking to the Mirror exclusively ahead of performing at Wembley stadium on Sunday - a venue he actually helped construct back in the day.

“The last time I was in Wembley arena I was working with my dad in construction and we helped build the place,” the cheeriest man in pop told us at Capital FM Summertime Ball with Barclaycard.

“This floor that we’re standing on, we could have helped build,” he explained, joking any wonky flooring or jammed doors could be due to his not so handy-work.

Sam Ryder performing on stage at Capital's Summertime Ball 2022 (Matt Crossick/Global/REX/Shutterstock)

“So the last time I was here I was building it, so it’s a nice full circle.”

Sam rose to superstardom last month, when he almost did the unimaginable and win the Eurovision Song Contest - coming second to Ukraine ’s entry.

After coming so close to victory, would be up for giving it another go next year?

“You know what, as so much as a fan of Eurovision, I just want more people to experience it,” Sam thoughtfully mused to us backstage.

Sam has risen to fame after performing at Eurovision (Matt Crossick/Global/REX/Shutterstock)

“The more people that do, the more it will become engrained in the UK’s attitude that Eurovision is something that we are so lucky to have it.”

When quizzed about whether he’d be up for finding the next hopeful entry, Sam was enthusiastically up for the task.

“Of course! Whoever does it is in for the time of their life.”

Sam is the highest scoring UK entrant ever in Eurovision history and for the first time since 1998 the UK placed in the top five.

To the shock of many, Sam won the contest with his track Space Man light years ahead of the competition when it came to the judges' votes – with the UK singer topping the leader board once votes from the experts were considered.

And while he continued to sit at the top of the list as votes from the public rolled in, everything changed when the final numbers were crunched.

Ukraine's folk-meets-hip-hop band Kalush Orchestra sealed victory when the public awarded them over 400 points, taking them to the top of the leader board.

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Appearing on BBC Radio 2 with Zoe Ball after his stunning performance, the Tik Tok sensation let fans in on his very humble celebration plans.

Zoe asked Sam: “How are your family by the way? You’ve mentioned your grandad, have you had chance to see them yet? I bet they haven’t slept. Have you all got together yet?

“They’re so stoked,” Sam laughed. “We’re having a very normal lovely curry as soon as I get home while watching the telly.”

“I just want to watch Gogglebox, and it’s going to be weird cause we’ll be on it,” he said, erupting into more laughter.

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