Olly Alexander reflects on ‘vulnerable and isolating’ Eurovision experience
Olly Alexander has reflected on his Eurovision 2024 experience. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery)
Olly Alexander has reflected on his Eurovision 2024 experience. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery)
Olly Alexander has looked back on his Eurovision experience, saying it felt “vulnerable and isolating” when he represented the United Kingdom in 2024.
The “Breathe” singer performed at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. Although Alexander flew the flag for the UK and the LGBTQ+ community at Eurovision, he famously received “nil points” from the public and finished in 18th place.
Looking back at his performance at the event over one year on, the former Years & Years singer has said he is “proud” to have represented the UK, despite it not being the result he hoped for.
“Now that I’ve had a bit of time away, I’m so proud I got to do it,” he told Tatler in a recent interview. “But it was also very stressful; it can be very vulnerable and isolating.”
His entry marked one of the first ready-made celebrities to represent the UK in recent years. Alexander was already a household name thanks to his success in the BAFTA-nominated series It’s a Sin, and his six Brit Award nominations for his band Years & Years.
But his celebrity status added extra pressure for the star to achieve with his track “Dizzy” in the competition. “Everyone said, ‘You’re going to bring it home, Olly,’” he told the outlet. “I knew I wouldn’t.
“I’ve never had so much pressure put on a song. People are brutal anyway, but because we’re in a competition, people are really going for you. I was like, ‘God, I’m just trying to give people a fun time!’”
After the event last year, the star wrote via a statement, branding his final score as “iconic”.
“Honestly, I don’t know where to even begin with this whole experience, I’m going to be processing things for a long time! For now I just want to say I am so proud of the performance and my team, everybody absolutely smashed it and gave it their all to bring the vision to life!!,” he wrote at the time.
“I met so many talented wonderful people on and off the stage and i’m really thankful we were able to support each other throughout. Though we may have received NIL Points from the voting public – which I shall be claiming as iconic! – I’ve also seen a lot of love and i’m truly grateful. thank you.”
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