TikTok star Sam Ryder has been announced as the UK’s entry for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.
The singer, from Essex, will perform his track SPACE MAN in the grand final in Turin, Italy, in May.
The news was revealed by Scott Mills on the Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James on Thursday (March 10).
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With over 12 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok, Ryder is currently the most followed UK music artist on the platform.
Ryder, 31, found fame covering songs on TikTok during lockdown and has so far accumulated 12 million followers on the video-sharing platform.
As lockdown began in March 2020, Ryder uploaded his first cover onto TikTok, his vocals catching the attention of celebrities including Justin Bieber and Sia.
Alicia Keys posted her own video reacting to Sam’s cover of her song ‘If I Ain’t Got You’.
Ryder signed to Parlophone and went on to release his debut EP in 2021, which has so far amassed over 100 million global streams.
Singles Whirlwind and Tiny Riot topped the worldwide iTunes chart.
Ryder co-wrote SPACE MAN with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud) and Max Wolfgang.
The musician told Eurovision.tv of his excitement: “Having been a fan of Eurovision since I was a kid I am so honoured to have been presented with the opportunity to sing at an event alongside some of Europe’s most talented creatives, performers and songwriters.
"I hope to sing my head off in a way the UK can be proud of, and to showcase a song I wrote with my friends last summer makes the whole experience even more special. See you in Turin legends!”
Last year’s contest, held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, was won by Italian rock group Maneskin.
The Eurovision semi-finals will be broadcast on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, May 10 and Thursday, May 12 at 8pm.
The grand final will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer plus via BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Saturday May 14 from 8pm.
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