Mae Muller is unveiled as the UK’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest

Mae Muller has been unveiled as the UK’s entry for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.

The singer, 25, told BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark it ‘felt surreal’ for her involvement to be out in the open after keeping the news a secret for two months.

Mae will take to the stage at the live final in Liverpool on May 13 with her own track I Wrote A Song, which was played for the first time during her radio appearance.

She said: ‘I’m SO excited to participate in Eurovision this year and represent the UK! I’ve loved watching Eurovision all my life, so to compete in such a massive music competition is simply brilliant. 

‘I’m a huge fan of so many of the artists that have found success at Eurovision, from ABBA to Måneskin! Sam Ryder was so amazing last year and proved the UK can be back on the left-hand side of the leader board! 

‘I wrote the song I Wrote A Song a few months ago when I was going through a hard time and wanted to feel empowered about relationships, so for it to be chosen for this year’s UK Eurovision song is honestly a dream!’

TaP Music co-founders Ben Mawson and Ed Millett added: ‘We have always been fans of Mae for her voice, songs and star charisma, and when we heard I Wrote A Song, we were really taken by its impactful message – ”songs as a form of therapy” (a great message for the biggest song contest in the world!) alongside its playful tone and up-tempo fun production. 

‘From the moment we met Mae, we knew she would be an incredible ambassador for the UK at Eurovision. 

‘Alongside her abundant talent, she has the most wonderfully warm and fun personality and expressed positivity and excitement about the opportunity to represent the UK. We are super excited to work with Mae, EMI and her management company Modest! on supporting Mae to get another great result at Eurovision.’ 

Rachel Ashdown, Lead Commissioning Editor for Eurovision at the BBC says: ‘We’d like to thank TaP for their extensive search for the UK entrant for Eurovision this year.

‘Mae’s commitment and drive in representing the UK is undeniably clear and I am certain that she is going to be a brilliant ambassador with I Wrote A Song.’ 

Suzy Lamb, MD of Entertainment & Music at BBC Studios said: ‘BBC Studios are so excited Mae Muller will be flying the UK flag on home turf in this very special Eurovision year. 

‘We could see from the very first time we met her that she is a ball of positive energy and we can’t wait for the rest of Europe and beyond to fall in love with her and her fabulous song.’ 

It was previously revealed by The Daily Mail that Mae has been chosen by music industry experts in the hope that she will follow last year’s UK star Sam Ryder to success when he came runner up to the Ukrainian competitor with his hit SPACE MAN.

Sources say that the decision to choose Miss Muller, 25, was taken in recent days and they are confident she will win ‘far more’ than nil points when she takes to the stage in Liverpool in May.

One said: ‘Mae is an extraordinary talent and there is little doubt that she will do the country proud and hopefully replicate the success and euphoria that Sam brought to last year’s competition.

‘A lot of time and effort has gone into picking the best singer for the job, she might not be a household name yet and of course the people who selected her are expecting people to ask who she is but they think the nation will love her, as will those across Europe.’

Star: It was previously revealed by The Daily Mail that Mae has been chosen by music industry experts in the hope that she will follow last year’s UK star Sam Ryder to success

It is being speculated that she will perform her own forthcoming single I Wrote A Song in the contest.

The competition is being held in the UK for the first time in 25 years.

While Miss Muller will be unknown to most, she supported popular girl group Little Mix on their 2019 tour and appeared in a music video for popstar Mika’s hit Grace Kelly in 2007 when she was just ten-years-old.

She also attended the £27,000-per-year Fine Arts college in Hampstead, North London, with the likes of Brooklyn Beckham and Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son Rocco.

Miss Muller began writing her own songs at the age of eight before leaving college and getting a job in a clothes shop American Apparel. 

She later went to work in a pub in Kentish Town, North London, so that she could concentrate on her music during the daytime.

She admitted recently that her musical inspirations are Gwen Stefani, Florence and the Machine and Lily Allen. 

Miss Muller also revealed that she first became interested in music when her mother played the Dixie Chicks’ album, Home.

Tune: It is being speculated that she will perform her own forthcoming single I Wrote A Song in the contest

Massive: Last year’s UK star Sam Ryder proved successful when he came runner up to the Ukrainian competitor with his hit SPACE MAN

Exciting: Eurovision hosts were revealed as (L-R) Sam Quek, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Julia Sanina, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon, Scott Mills, Rylan and Timur Miroshnychenko 

Incredible: Miss Muller began writing her own songs at the age of eight before leaving college and getting a job in a clothes shop American Apparel

Speaking of her love for singing, she said: ‘I’d stand on the coffee table and sing songs and force everyone to have a look at me. I was always just that annoying kid.

‘I started putting videos of me singing on Instagram and I put a song up on SoundCloud and then from there it just kind of snowballed. 

‘I started getting into sessions and just making more and more music and working on improving my writing skills.’

Last year the responsibility for selecting the UK entrant was handed to music management company TaP after they had so many low-scoring contestants.

Tickets for the event, which will be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, sold out in 90 minutes prompting fears that touts will inflate the prices which were between £30 and £380.

In yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak vowed to speak to the home secretary put in place further measures to combat the problem.

The grand final will be anchored by Graham Norton.

The international singing competition will take place at the 11,000-capacity Liverpool Arena later this year, culminating in the grand final on May 13, after Britain was asked to host the contest on behalf of war-torn 2022 winner Ukraine.

There will also be evening preview show – referred to as the jury show at previous contests – which is a dress rehearsal-style full run through of the show that takes place the night before the televised version.

Audiences attending the evening preview will be able to stay for a randomised version of the qualifier and points reveal, which gives the presenters a chance to practise for the possible different outcomes.

There will also be an afternoon preview show – usually referred to as the family show – which is a full run through of the live show that will take place earlier in the day and is therefore ideal for those wishing to bring younger children along.

There will also be a randomised points reveal at the afternoon preview show.

Emmy Award-winning actress Hannah Waddingham and singer-songwriter, pop star and TV presenter Alesha Dixon will also be in attendance.

Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will be the Eurovision Correspondent in Liverpool, while former sportswoman and television personality Sam Quek will front the Opening Ceremony live stream on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube Channel and Mel Giedroyc, Scott Mills, Rylan and Claire Sweeney will also have roles. 

Highly sought-after tickets will also be available for the live televised show, which will see audiences across Europe and Australia able to cast real votes.

Rising star: While Miss Muller will be unknown to most, she supported popular girl group Little Mix on their 2019 tour and appeared in a music video for popstar Mika’s hit Grace Kelly in 2007 when she was just ten-years-old

Pricey: Tickets for the event, which will be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, sold out in 90 minutes prompting fears that touts will inflate the prices which were between £30 and £380

Presenting the Grand Final on May 13 to a global audience of 160 million will be Eurovision legend Graham Norton. He will also be joined by Ukrainian singer, composer and frontwoman of The HARDKISS alternative band, Julia Sanina.

Ukrainian refugees living in the UK through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be able to apply for cheaper tickets.

It was previously announced that the UK Government will make around 3,000 tickets available for those who were forced to flee their home country when Russian troops invaded last year. The subsidised tickets will cost £20.

The semi-final evening preview kicks off at 8pm on May 8, with the grand final live show bringing the contest to an end starting at 8pm on May 13.