Jade lands UK's Eurovision place

Jade Ewen has been chosen to sing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Eurovision Song Contest entry for the UK in Moscow.

The Londoner won the public vote ahead of Sheffield siblings The Twins and Welshman Mark Evans after all three acts performed My Time.

The ballad, heard for the first time, was composed by Lloyd Webber with US Grammy-winning lyricist Diane Warren.

The composer said he would give "101% commitment" to the singer ahead of the Eurovision final on 16 May.

In an interview ahead of the contest, Lloyd Webber said that he feared one of three final acts would be unable to cope with the pressure of performing at the event.

'Realistic'

He said it would be a "mistake to put through somebody who didn't appear to do the song justice".

In the live final of Your Country Needs You, 23-year-old Mark, who until recently appeared in pantomine, finished third in the public vote.

Identical sisters Nicola and Francine Gleadall, whose interpretation of Lloyd Webber's song won praise from song contest fans, were pipped to the post.

All three acts performed two cover versions during the programme, with Jade singing Beyonce's Deja Vu and Lady Marmalade.

The singer, whose father is blind and mother is partially sighted, choked back tears as she reprised her Eurovision song.

Poor form

Earlier in the programme, panellist and former contest winner Lulu told Jade: "You tick all the boxes, you've got the whole package."

HAVE YOUR SAY
"Let's get behind her and give all the support possible. OK, it is only a bit of fun, but WE WANNA WIN!"
Jimbob

Send us your comments

The singer is now faced with the task of reversing the UK's very poor recent form at Eurovision, including last place at the 2008 final.

She is expected to go on a tour of Europe to promote the song ahead of the competition.

Lloyd Webber has said that a top 10 placing - last achieved in 2002 - would be a "realistic" goal.

Last year's UK entry Andy Abraham said Jade would do "a fine job".

"It's whether or not the public across Europe still take us seriously enough," he added.

"We have taken the competition seriously, at least the in last couple of years, but it's whether or not the political voting is put to one side and they just look at the songs in their own right."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Your Country Needs You
Eurovision Song Contest
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites