UK Eurovision hopefuls ready to 'put on a show'

Remember Monday are representing the UK at Eurovision on Saturday

They have starred on stage in the West End, taken part together on reality TV and are now the UK's first all-female group to compete at Eurovision this century.

Remember Monday, a country-pop trio from Surrey and Hampshire, take to the stage in Basel in Switzerland on Saturday night hoping to be the UK's first winner since 1997.

Holly-Anne Hull, from Camberley, Charlotte Steele, from Farnham, and Lauren Byrne, from Fleet, all co-wrote What The Hell Just Happened? which they hope will "stand out" in the 69th annual contest.

The band told BBC Radio Surrey: "We are all theatre girlies and we are not going to shy away from putting on a show."

Performing is in the blood of all three band members.

They have been friends for 12 years after meeting at sixth-form college in Farnborough studying performing arts.

They said: "We just began performing together.

"Monday was always our day where we had free periods and that's when we would rehearse.

"That's where our band name comes from."

With studies completed top West End shows followed, including Phantom of the Opera, Six and Matilda.

Alongside their stage performances the band stayed together and in 2019 the trio reached the knockout stages of TV reality show The Voice.

The trio made their first of nine appearance on BBC Introducing in Sussex and Surrey in February 2019.

The band said: "BBC Introducing supported us before anyone else did. We will always remember hearing ourselves on the radio for the first time."

Melita Dennett, the show's presenter, said: "It's been fantastic to support an act which has come so far through sheer hard work, dogged determination and strong songwriting."

Among the band's West End credits are Phantom of the Opera, where Holly-Anne played Christine, and Matilda, where Lauren played Miss Honey

Eurovision is now set to give them a global audience.

Lauren said: "It's so overwhelming. It doesn't feel real.

"I'm currently living my dream with my two best friends."

Holly-Anne said: "Eurovision is the perfect place to release your inhibitions.

"We're going to bring loads of fun, energy and hopefully do something that you won't have seen before on the Eurovision stage."

Charlotte is, by her own admission, "a huge Eurovision fan".

She said: "My parents would often host Eurovision parties and we used to dress up in different outfits and bring food from each country."

So is she bringing her whole family to the contest in Switzerland?

"We only get two tickets each," she said. "Tickets are like gold dust."

The band have travelled all over Europe to promote their Eurovision song, What The Hell Just Happened?

Brenda Tuppen, Lauren's great aunt who lives in Thakeham, West Sussex, told BBC Radio Sussex: "I was so excited when they got chosen.

"They certainly won't get nul points as there are so many of us in the family who will vote for them."

Remember Monday's Eurovision song What The Hell Just Happened? chronicles the aftermath of a "fun night out with friends", and, according to the band, has "a lot of influences in there from our favourite artists".

Holly-Anne said: "We've thrown the kitchen sink at it.

"We think it will stand out."