BBC Eurovision fans divided over Olly Alexander's debut UK performance

It's the moment many people across the globe have been waiting for, as the Eurovision Song Contest officially kicked off on Tuesday for the first semi-finals.

Former Cyprus contestant Eleni Foureira opened the show over on the BBC featuring back-up dancers all in black as she dazzled in a sparkly outfit. However, it was Olly Alexander's debut performance for the UK which got everyone talking.

The Years & Years frontman, 33, is most notably known for appearing in the pop group however will now represent the UK with his track 'Dizzy'. Fans got a glimpse as he performed it for the first time on Tuesday night, however not everyone was impressed.

The singer and songwriter was thrilled to perform the first hit single he penned under his own name, which has been hotly tipped to showcase some of the best stage production. Viewers tuning in didn't seem to all agree, as they took to social media.

One person wrote: "Had high hopes for the UK @Eurovision this year with Olly Alexander but it sounded a little ropey at the semi-final just now on @BBCRadio2," as another quipped: "#eurovision Shockingly poor singing there from Olly Alexander."

A third added: "#EURO2024 sorry but I don’t think much of #OllyAlexander Dizzy UK entry. Set and production poor."

Despite mixed views, some fans were thrilled as they backed the singer. One person said: "I just love Olly Alexander... GREAT staging... #ESC2024," and another wrote: "Olly’s performance was SO professional. It was like watching a music video. Best staging of the year #unitedkingdom."

"Ok, when I first heard Olly Alexander's #Eurovision song for the UK, I didn't like it, but now that I'm seeing the staging, I like it a lot better," added another viewer.

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Elsewhere, a British fan of the Eurovision Song Contest has predicted Olly might avoid the UK’s more recent run of bad luck with his track Dizzy.

Richard Bartlett, 46, wearing a Union flag shirt and a red cap, told the PA news agency on Tuesday outside Sweden’s Malmo Arena: “I think he’s going to do better than the bottom of the pile (on Saturday).

“I think they’re suggesting that it’ll be the better side of the board this time so I think he’s predicted to be 14th, 15th.”

The Lincoln-based fan also said he feels the the UK “needs to put a little bit more work into it”, before adding: “I know a lot of our artists sometimes feel it’s a curse, isn’t it?

“(The) Eurovision curse if you do your Eurovision you’re gonna kill your future career because if you don’t do well you’re not gonna look good.”

Richard also said it is tough for the UK as one of the five countries that automatically qualify for the final and “we’re not always the most popular with the rest of Europe”.

“I think we do make it tougher for ourselves, which I think means we have to be doing a lot better with the song we bring if we want to start placing higher,” Mr Bartlett added.

Sam Ryder’s second place in the 2022 contest was a rare recent British success after a string of lower placings. The UK last won in 1997 with Katrina And The Waves’ Love Shine A Light.

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