Comic was told 'it's too silly, we can’t have that'

Bill Bailey one put forward a song for Eurovision – which the BBC rejected for being ‘too silly’.

The comic has again thrown his hat into the ring after the UK scored ‘nul points’ at the weekend’s final.

But speaking on Good Morning Britain today, he revealed he had submitted his own composition a few years ago, but got knocked back.

A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a spoof eco-anthem in the style of Dad’s Army,’ he revealed.

‘The BBC said "it's too silly, we can’t have that".

‘This taking it seriously, that's not going well either is it?' 

Strictly winner Bailey also mused on where Britain was going wrong, suggesting:  '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 said  James Newman's Embers ‘was a serviceable song and performance’ – but didn’t stand out enough.

‘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.

'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.’

Almost 1,200 people have signed Chortle’s online petition for the BBC to consider Bailey to represent the UK in Italy next year, after the comedian tweeted: ‘I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.’

Published: 25 May 2021