Fox chosen as Eurovision hopeful

The UK's Eurovision hopeful James Fox competed in Fame Academy

Former Fame Academy student James Fox has been chosen to represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The 27-year-old from Bargoed, south Wales, swept past his five rivals in a live vote on BBC One with his song Hold On To Our Love.

Fox's mid-tempo ballad will be pitted against 23 other songs at the musical event in Istanbul on 15 May.

"I'm speechless! Bring it on," said Fox. "I have a proven track record with Fame Academy, so I'm well-equipped for the Eurovision Song Contest."

The singer won the lion's share of public votes, beating boy band Hyrise, female vocalists Haifa and Madison Taylor, Reborn In The USA star Haydon Eshun and girl group En-Rapture in the live sing-off.

He took an immediate lead in the Eurovision-style vote from a series of regional panels.

Last year's Eurovision winner, Turkey's Sertab Ererner, presented Fox with his trophy.

'Enough to win'

"It's great, I like the song, I like James - he is a great performer, which will be enough to win," said Erener, one of Turkey's most popular female singers.

Singer-songwriter Fox has also worked cruise ships and played to British forces stationed around the world.

A strong live performance saw him casually dressed and strumming a guitar.

The BBC decided to change the format for choosing the song in an effort to improve the UK's result in 2003, when the UK's Jemini finished last with no points.

New format

Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up was given a high-profile Saturday evening slot on BBC One in a bid to increase interest in the selection process.

The songs were penned by British composers who have written tunes for the likes of Westlife and Christina Aguilera.

Boy band Hyrise were unsuccessful in their Eurovision bid

Turkey won the right to host this year's contest after they scored their first ever victory last year with Every Way That I Can, by Sertab Erener.

The UK has won the contest five times, the last time being in 1997 with Katrina And The Waves' Love Shine A Light.

The odds of the UK winning the Eurovision Song Contest have been put at 12-1.

But bookmakers have set odds for the UK repeating their "nul points" performance at 16-1 - compared with 100-1 before last year's contest.

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What did you think of the performance? Can the UK win?

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

I think James Fox won because he had the best song Stuart, Brighton, UK

I think James Fox won because he had the best song, and gave the best performance on the night. The Hyrise song was OK, but they looked dreadful and they mimed half the words. Remember we want somebody who can sing LIVE!!
Stuart, Brighton, UK

Could our representative look any rougher? Do we really want Europe to think we are tasteless, unshaven, council-estate dwelling thugs? If so, then all credit to him, if not, tune out on the supposed "big" night.
Peter Ross, Bromsgrove, UK

If James repeats the polished performance he gave last night and I am sure he will, the UK is definitely in with a good chance to win this year.
Ann Woolfson, Yelverton, Devon

I don't care if we win or not. Let's face it, Eurovision is plastic pop music - manufactured & instantly forgettable. There are 100's of talented bands out there in the UK - but most of them wouldn't be seen dead on Eurovision - it's the equivalent of artistic suicide. James and the rest are all surely nice people, but their music is irrelevant. The only reason to watch Eurovision is for Terry Wogan taking the gentle mickey out of the contestants and the voting panels.
James Russell, London

Thanks to our performance in the political arena in Europe over the last year, it wouldn't surprise me if that was reflected with another 'nil point' regardless of our entry.
Claire, Glasgow

I thought James was great. I picked him as a winner right from the start. I have never heard him sing before as I did not watch Fame Academy. He reminds me of Sir Cliff Richard very boppy, which is I feel what Eurovision is all about. Best of luck James.
Jodie, Wales

We need something more funky and poppified not one man and his band! Ashley Larter, Penzance Cornwall, UK

Well I watched 'Making your mind Up' last night and I thought HYRISE would be an excellent asset to the UK's entry for Eurovision. As a massive fan of Eurovision, I don't think James Fox will win. He'll probably come mid tempo. We need something more funky and poppified not one man and his band! Hyrise should of gone through but I guess...The UK is to blame for losing this years Eurovision song contest. Never the less, Congratulations to James, I'm sure he'll be better than last years hopefuls.
Ashley Larter, Penzance Cornwall, UK

There was no doubt that James Fox was going to win - even before he opened his mouth, he was the only one known before the show due to Fame Academy giving him an advantage and also the same Saturday audience. If he had sang any of the other songs from last night (some of which were better) he would still have won.
Graham, Edinburgh