Eurovision 2016: UK 'serious' about finding an act

The man in charge of finding an act to represent the UK at Eurovision 2016 says it's time to take the contest seriously.

For the first time in six years, the BBC announced there will be a live televised selection process.

Six acts will take to the stage during 90 minute programme called Eurovision: You Decide.

Guy Freeman, the UK's Head of Delegation says: "We need to re-engage and celebrate Eurovision."

Speaking to Newsbeat, Guy says Eurovision should always be a fun thing but "it's time to take the business of finding a song and someone to perform it very seriously".

Despite recent UK entrants being branded a joke with no chance of winning, Guy says he is "desperate" for the UK to win again.

The last time the UK won was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves and Love Shine a Light.

This is what the last UK winners of Eurovision looked like.

Guy doesn't believe there's snobbery within the music industry when acts perform at the contest.

"There's a platform here for you to get your song in front of 200 million people in one go.

"Yes, the odds are slim but the rewards are very high."

But does he think you can have a successful music career after performing at Eurovision?

"I don't see why not."

Eurovision: You Decide will be broadcast live on Friday 26 February on BBC Four.

What happened to previous UK acts voted for by the public?

This won't be the first time the BBC has tried to find a successful UK entrant with the help of the public vote.

And it's quite difficult for anyone to suggest the acts who won the public's support have had a successful career.

Watch Daz Sampson perform in Athens.

Daz Sampson won Making Your Mind Up in 2006 with his entry Teenage Life.

It was a top ten hit for him in the UK but he only managed 25 points, placing him 19th out of the 24 acts.

Since then, he's not troubled the charts.

Watch Scooch perform in Helsinki.

Scooch released music in the early '00s but without much success.

They represented the UK in the 2007 contest.

They performed Flying the Flag (For You) and finished 22nd out of 24 entries with 19 points during the final in Helsinki, Finland.

They didn't release any more music.

Watch Jade Ewen perform in Moscow.

Jade Ewen beat five other contestants to represent the UK in the 2009.

Eurovision: Your Country Needs You was held over four weeks with the winner performing a song especially written by West End legend Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

The UK received 173 points, placing fifth and gaining its highest position since 2002.

After Eurovision, Jade replaced Keisha Buchanan in the Sugababes and had two Top 10 singles with them.

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