Olly Alexander 'very touched' by home town support

The singer grew up in Coleford

The UK's 2024 Eurovision entry Olly Alexander has said he is "very touched" by the support his home town has thrown behind him.

The former Years & Years frontman grew up in Coleford, Gloucestershire, where people have been sending him messages of support.

Alexander is already through to the finals because the UK is one of the “big five” countries automatically through to the last bout.

He will become the first UK act to perform in the semi-final on Tuesday and will also take to the stage for the final, live from Malmö, on Saturday, to perform his entry, called Dizzy.

Alexander, 33, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that being in Malmö is "like being inside a dream".

"The atmosphere is just so exciting," he said.

"Everywhere you go in the city there's posters for Eurovision, every shop you go into, every cafe has Eurovision merch.

"It's all feeling very real and I can't wait."

A cardboard version of Olly has made itself at home at Forest Deli in Coleford

For the very first time, artists from the Big Five countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom - plus host nation Sweden, will each perform their entries in full live during the Semi-Finals.

The acts automatically qualify for the Grand Final, so whilst they will perform their song in full, they will not compete for votes in the Semi-Finals and will not be part of the Semi-Final voting sequences.

The five countries automatically qualify as their broadcasters make the biggest financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the Eurovision Song Contest.

Alexander's mum, Vicki Thornton, still lives in Coleford

In the run up to Eurovision, BBC Radio Gloucestershire left a cardboard cutout of Alexander in Forest Deli, in Coleford.

Alexander's mum, Vicki Thornton, still lives in the market town.

"There's just some really lovely, really beautiful people in that part of the world, in Coleford," Alexander said.

"My mum's actually been telling me how she went and got her nails done and she got little 'dizzy' symbols on her nails.

"She was saying they've all gone Dizzy mad."

'Blows his mind'

Alexander said it "blows his mind" that his former primary school, St John's CofE Academy in Coleford, is also cheering him on.

With regards to the staging of the popstar's performance, fans can expect "a post-apocalyptic locker room hurtling through space".

Despite all his hard work, Alexander is "not thinking about" where he may place on the leader-board.

"I just want to do my best and put on a performance I can be proud of," he said.

"I want to be able to look back in 30 years and go, 'wow, we did that'.

"I'll never experience anything like this again so I just want to make the most of it."