Words by Sascha Stolp. Photos by Edward Till
On Friday, 26th February, the UK National Broadcaster, BBC, held the first UK national final for 6 years with Eurovision:You Decide at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. The show was hosted by Mel Giedroyc, a popular British television presenter and commentator for the UK broadcasts of the Semi-Finals of Eurovision. The contest consisted of 6 acts vying to represent the UK at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in May, and also included performances by last year’s Eurovision winner, Måns Zelmerlöw as well as the last UK winner in 1997, Katrina Leskanich performing her winning entry Love Shine A Light. Katrina was also part of the judging panel, along with Carrie Grant (part of 1983 UK Eurovision entry Sweet Dreams) and choreographer Jay Revell who will be working with the 2016 UK Eurovision act.
The 6 contests were Dulcima with their folk-inspired entry When You Go, Matthew James singing A Better Man, Darline bringing some country with Until Tomorrow, Karl William Lund and his entry Miracle, Bianca with her power ballad Shine a Little Light, and finally Joe & Jake with their entry You’re Not Alone.
Following all 6 performances, voting lines opened, with the winner chosen solely by public vote. The UK decided that Joe & Jake impressed them the most and will be their representatives at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
Joe Woolford, 21 yo from Ruthin, Wales and Jake Shakeshaft, 20 yo from Stoke-on-Trent, met when they both took part of the 2015 series of The Voice UK.
Their song You’re Not Alone was written by Schwartz, Justin J Benson and S.Kanes.
See their winning performance below, as well as some other photos night. Good luck Joe & Jake!
