Bill Bailey reveals he submitted a song for Eurovision but it was rejected

Bill Bailey has revealed he once submitted a song for Eurovision, but was rejected by the BBC because it was ‘too silly’.

The comedian, 56, revealed the rejection on Tuesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain, and said the UK need a song that is a ‘huge celebration of Britishness’ after James Newman’s Embers scored zero points at the song competition this year.

He reflected: ‘A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a spoof anthem, the BBC said it’s too silly. This taking it seriously, that’s not going well either is it?’ 

‘The BBC said it was too silly!’ Bill Bailey revealed on Tuesday’s GMB that he submitted a song for Eurovision in the past but was rejected because it was a ‘spoof anthem’

Bill said of future entries into the competition show: ‘There needs to be a bit more drama, theatre, that’s what this show is about. Even if it’s a bit over the top and eccentric, that’s something that’s been lacking.’ 

He went on to reflect on this year’s results, Bill said: ‘It was a serviceable song and performance. We’re sort of missing a trick. 

‘We need to celebrate the eccentricity of Britishness, it doesn’t seem to be coming across. It’s very well produced but it’s a bit underwhelming, a bit bland.’

Thoughts: Bill claimed the UK need a song that is a 'huge celebration of Britishness' after James Newman's Embers scored zero points at the song competition this year (pictured)

Thoughts: Bill claimed the UK need a song that is a ‘huge celebration of Britishness’ after James Newman’s Embers scored zero points at the song competition this year (pictured)

Candid: Bill revealed: 'A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a spoof anthem, the BBC said it's too silly. This taking it seriously, that's not going well either is it?'

Candid: Bill revealed: ‘A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a spoof anthem, the BBC said it’s too silly. This taking it seriously, that’s not going well either is it?’

The Strictly Come Dancing champion added: ‘There’s always something on my mind, a rock song, I don’t know. We’re not taking it seriously enough. 

‘We’ve got it the wrong way around. We should focus on the visuals of it, make it into a huge celebration of Britishness with some great hooks.’

On Saturday night, the UK was the only country to receive zero points and finished in last place, with Italy’s act Måneskin coming in first with a staggering 524 points. 

Candid: Reflecting on this year's results, Bill said: 'It was a serviceable song and performance. We're sort of missing a trick'

Candid: Reflecting on this year’s results, Bill said: ‘It was a serviceable song and performance. We’re sort of missing a trick’

Opinion: Bill said of future entries into the competition show: ‘There needs to be a bit more drama, theatre, that’s what this show is about. Even if it’s a bit over the top and eccentric’

On Monday, James said he was trying to ‘focus on the positives’ after he scored zero points at the 65th song competition on Saturday night.

Taking to Twitter, the musician, 35, who performed his song Embers in front of the 3,500 fans at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, said of the loss: ‘It teaches you how to pick yourself up and be stronger.’  

Writing a heartfelt statement, UK entry James penned: ‘I want to focus on the positives of this amazing experience. I stood on a stage and sang to hundreds of millions of people with a song that I wrote and love.

Lesson: On Monday, James said he was trying to 'focus on the positives' after he scored zero points at the 65th song competition on Saturday night

Lesson: On Monday, James said he was trying to ‘focus on the positives’ after he scored zero points at the 65th song competition on Saturday night

‘I’ve learnt so much from the amazing people who gave everything to help me live my dream.

‘The dancers, my choreographer, my vocal coach, everyone from my label, my manager and the BBC and all the people behind-the-scenes at Eurovision and the arena.’

James, whose brother is John Newman, added that he feels ‘so lucky’ to have had the chance to perform and insisted that there is ‘no guarantee’ that people will ‘connect’ with a song.  

Heartfelt: Writing a heartfelt statement, James penned: 'I stood on a stage and sang to hundreds of millions of people with a song that I wrote and love'

Heartfelt: Writing a heartfelt statement, James penned: ‘I stood on a stage and sang to hundreds of millions of people with a song that I wrote and love’ 

The singer, who was given odds of just 200/1 by Betfair to win, continued: ‘All these people are the best in the business and I got the chance to work with them and share this crazy experience that I’m so lucky to have the chance to do.

‘The thing about writing songs is that there is no guarantee that a song you think will connect with people, will connect with an audience.

‘Thank you to all the amazing dedicated fans who have supported me through the whole thing made it all worth it. Because at the end of the day they are the people who you do this all for.

‘Just want to say a huge massive thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been on this journey with me, supported me, listened to my music and filled my life with positivity and love.’

Signing off his poignant post, James concluded: ‘The times when it doesn’t play out how you hoped it might, teaches you how to pick yourself up and be stronger x.’ 

Fans were quick to praise the UK entry for his dignified response as they insisted he should be ‘proud’.

After discovering that the UK had finished in last place with zero points on Saturday night, James started jumping in the air and celebrating to which the arena cheered him on – with many applauding his cheerful attitude. 

Winners! The Italian band Maneskin leaped for joy as they triumphed at the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands on Saturday night

Winners! The Italian band Maneskin leaped for joy as they triumphed at the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands on Saturday night 

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