Former Newcastle University student James Newman will get another chance to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest after heartbreak last year.
James, 35, is a highly successful songwriter, having won a Brit for British Single of the Year (2014) for Waiting All Night’ the massive number 1 from Rudimental and Ella Eyre.
He has also written hit singles like Lay It All On Me, performed by Rudimental ft Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and younger brother John Newman's smash Blame and Love Me Like You by Little Mix.
James was meant to be representing the UK at Eurovision last year but the competition was cancelled due to coronavirus and turned into a virtual celebration with no jury or public votes.
The UK has followed the trend of other countries, including Ireland, by sending the same act as last year with James confirmed by the BBC on Friday morning.
He reacted: "I’m so excited and honoured to be getting a second chance at representing my country in the Eurovision Song Contest. I haven’t stopped making new music in lockdown and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the song I’m taking to Eurovision in 2021.”
When James' was announced last year, one of his fellow Newcastle Uni students tweeted: "Love love love @JamesNewmanUk was the first person I ever recorded when I was studying sound production at Newcastle. He was on another course in the same place and his voice stopped me in my tracks as it was just incredible. So proud of you fella."
The song James will take to Eurovision this year is set to be revealed next month.
Since his Eurovision disappointment last year, James released his debut EP ‘The Things We Do’ in Summer 2020 and ended the year with another new collaboration with Armin Van Buuren, ‘Slow Lane’.
