Olly Alexander Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Eurovision organisers have defended their decision not to boycott Israel over the war in Gaza.It comes ahead of the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden this Saturday (May 11).There have been several calls to boycott the competition from various countries. Over 1,000 Swedish artists called for Israel to be banned this year, such as Robyn, Fever Ray, and First Aid Kit, whilst over 1,400 Finnish music industry professionals recently signed a petition to ban the country from taking part in the contest as well.In the buildup to the 2024 edition, individual artists such as Olly Alexander also faced calls to boycott the event.

ITV's This Morning had a bit of a bumpy start on Wednesday when presenter Ben Shephard teased Cat Deeley live on air, accusing her of dressing like a dancer from Eurovision. Prior to the exchange, Lorraine Kelly had conducted an interview with Eurovision Song Contest UK entry Olly Alexander.

Olly Alexander has admitted that he is “ambivalent” about the Union Jack flag.The Years and Years star, who is set to perform for the UK with his song ‘Dizzy’ at the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden this Saturday (May 11), said he also found it “divisive” and “nationalist” but he wants to reclaim the flag in a “positive way”.Speaking to the media [via Metro] ahead of the contest, Alexander said: “I’ve grown up in the UK, there’s a lot that I love about the UK, maybe the people and I’m lucky to have grown up in the UK.“I too have an ambivalent relationship with the Union Jack and what that represents to people because it can feel divisive, it can feel nationalist, but it can also feel like a representation of what’s good about the UK and what makes it good – it’s the inclusivity, the diversity. I am choosing to kind of focus on those aspects of what I believe being in the UK has given me in my upbringing as well.”He continued: “I hope to reclaim the Union Jack in a positive way and when I’m going to be out there waving my flag, waving the Union Jack at the flag parade, it’s for all the good things that have come from growing up in the UK and being British and yeah, I think definitely focusing on that side of things.”It comes after Alexander recently reportedly broke down in tears during an interview when addressing the current controversies relating to Israel’s participation in this year’s competition.Alexander went on to say he supported “a ceasefire, returning the hostages, the safety and security of all people in Gaza.

Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden this weekend, a huge two-time winner from the country has announced they’ll be touring Europe and the UK next year.

Olly Alexander reportedly broke down in tears during an interview when addressing the current controversies relating to Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.Alexander will represent the UK with his song ‘Dizzy’ at the grand final of the contest in Malmö, Sweden next Saturday (May 11). However, he has been subject to strong calls to boycott the competition over Israel being allowed to compete due to its ongoing war with Gaza, in the name of showing solidarity with Palestine.In a new interview with The Times, Alexander admitted he had been struggling after the interviewer noticed that he seemed out of sorts during his performance at a Eurovision pre-party in London.“Yes, I struggled that day,” he said. “I was holed up in a room trying not to have a breakdown.

ITV has decided to remove Britain's Got Talent from its schedule next weekend, in an attempt to avoid a 'ratings war' with the Eurovision Song Contest. On Saturday, May 11, the popular talent show will be replaced by the Bond film Casino Royale, with BGT set to return on Sunday night, May 12. OK! has reached out to ITV for comment.The upcoming weekend will see more auditions on BGT, following its return to screens last month.

Olly Alexander was moved to tears as he addressed the controversy surrounding the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.

Olly Alexander made a cameo appearance in last night’s episode of EastEnders (May 2) – watch below.The Years & Years frontman starred in a scene on the BBC One soap ahead of representing the UK at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden next Saturday (May 11).Alexander visited the iconic Queen Victoria pub on Albert Square, where he was introduced as a friend of Johnny Carter (played by Charlie Suff). The latter character explained that the pair “go way back”, adding: “Years and years, in fact.”The singer added: “We met in a bar in Manchester.

Eurovision Song Contest 2024.According to Eurovision World, the favourites to win the competition have been revealed. Coming in first place is Switzerland’s NEMO, who currently has a 25 per cent chance at snagging the crown this year with their song ‘The Code’.Behind Switzerland in second place is Croatia, whose entry Baby Lasagna is predicted to have a 17 per cent chance of winning with his song ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’.

Pet Shop Boys have responded to the recent comparisons of their classic single ‘It’s A Sin’ to Olly Alexander’s Eurovision entry ‘Dizzy’.Alexander released the track last month ahead of the Years & Years singer representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden next month.‘Dizzy’ was co-written by Alexander and electronic producer Danny L Harle (Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Caroline Polachek). Upon the track’s release, the former explained that it was “inspired by a lot of music we love from the ’80s like Erasure, Adamski and of course Pet Shop Boys”.Some listeners have pointed out similarities to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s 1987 hit specifically.

Olly Alexander is set to make an appearance on EastEnders next month.The Years & Years singer is this year’s UK Eurovision Song Contest entrant, and will be visiting Walford as part of his rehearsal process.According to the BBC, Alexander will be heading to the fictional Queen Vic pub after finishing up rehearsals for his Eurovision performance nearby.Alexander has spoken about the opportunity to feature on the UK’s most popular TV soap, saying: “I’m thrilled to be making my first appearance on EastEnders and in the most iconic pub in the UK.”The It’s A Sin star continued: “I’m so happy I got to meet some true screen legends and spend time on set with the brilliant cast and crew.”Alexander shared how he had initially wanted the appearance to be kept secret from his mum: “I wanted to surprise my mum as it’s her favourite show but I guess the cat is out of the bag now, she’s gonna love it!”

Eurovision 2024 fever is in full swing and we’re now just weeks away from the main event in Sweden.

This year’s UK Eurovision entry has rejected calls for him to boycott this year’s Song Contest in protest at Israel being included in the competition.

Olly Alexander has confirmed that he will not boycott this year’s Eurovision, despite Israel’s inclusion, saying “it wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal”.The UK’s entry in this year’s competition has faced calls to withdraw in solidarity with Palestine, but it appears that will not be happening.In a personal statement posted on his social media accounts, he said: “I wholeheartedly support action being taken to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safety and security of all civilians in Palestine and Israel.“I know some people will choose to boycott this year’s Eurovision and I understand and respect their decision.”Queers for Palestine sent me their letter asking me to withdraw from the ESC earlier this week and I responded to them directly, I’m sharing my response here alongside this mornings collective artist statement

Olly Alexander and a number of other performers have released a joint statement about their participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after calls to boycott the competition in solidarity with Palestine.Yesterday (March 28) hundreds of queer artists, individuals and organisations called on Alexander to pull out of the competition this year, after its refusal to expel Israel.Now, Alexander, alongside Ireland’s Bambie Thug, Norway’s Gåte, Portugal’s Iolanda, San Marino’s Megara, Switzerland’s Nemo, Denmark’s SABA, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Finland’s Windows95Man, have signed a letter outlining their response.“We want to begin by acknowledging the privilege of taking part in Eurovision,” it begins.pic.twitter.com/VBNQWwPe46— olly alexander (@alexander_olly) March 29, 2024“In light of the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and particularly in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable being silent. It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages.

Olly Alexander, the UK’s Eurovision contestant, to boycott the song contest in solidarity with Palestine.The push was put forward to the singer, actor and Years & Years vocalist via an open letter, which was published by Queers For Palestine.In the letter – which can be read in full here – the signatories urge the musician to boycott the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest due to the inclusion of Israel. “By refusing to expel Israel from the competition, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is providing cultural cover and endorsement for the catastrophic violence that Israel has unleashed on Palestinians,” it reads.“At a time when accountability is so urgently needed, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision would enable and cover up its war crimes and crimes against humanity,” it continues.

Coldplay, Vampire Weekend and Beabadoobee are among the names that have been added to the huge line-up for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2024.This year’s edition of the festival is set to run between Friday, May 24 and Sunday, May 26, and will be held at Stockwood Park in Luton.The names for the first two nights had already been announced, and now the line-up for Sunday has been confirmed, with Coldplay topping the bill on the Main Stage.We'll be closing out #BigWeekend Luton with a headline performance from @coldplay on Sunday 26th May! ✨For more details and info on tickets, visit https://t.co/4t4HBZtjzI pic.twitter.com/9gvRfS50OO— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) March 20, 2024“We wouldn’t be anywhere without Radio 1 and we’re super excited to come to Luton this year and play Big Weekend,” the band said about their inclusion on the line-up.Rounding out the Main Stage bill on Sunday will be Declan McKenna, Olly Alexander, Sabrina Carpenter and Vampire Weekend.Tickets for the weekend go on sale at 5pm tomorrow (March 21), and will cost £29.50, plus a £4.50 booking fee. Full information on how to get yours can be found here.The festival has also confirmed the line-up for the New Music Stage on Sunday, May 26, with Beabadoobee taking top billing.

In a sign that the Eurovision Song Contest is becoming ever more political as we head towards the competition in May, a London cinema has announced that it will not be screening the Grand Final unless Israel is banned from taking part.

Eurovision 2024 song lyrics after initially sparking controversy.The country received widespread criticism with their entry this year formerly titled ‘October Rain’. Sung by 20-year-old Eden Golan, the track appeared to contain references to the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.

Olly Alexander, the frontman for King and Shine hitmakers Years And Years, has a super stylish home in East London. The 33 year old star often shows gives his social media followers a look at his chic flat, with its dark blue walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and cool bathroom. Back in January 2021, Olly gave an amazing acting performance in the hit BBC show about the AIDS crisis, It's A Sin, playing the character Ritchie Tozer.

Olly Alexander has shared the new solo track ‘Dizzy’, which will also serve as the UK’s official entry for Eurovision 2024. Check it out below.Released today (March 1), the track was written by Alexander in collaboration with electronic producer Danny L Harle (Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Caroline Polachek), and looks to capture that same intoxicating rush felt when with someone new.Inspired by the club classics of the ‘00s, the song also comes alongside a new music video – capturing a head-spinning representation of the emotions described in the lyrics and blurring the line between fantasy and reality.“I wrote the song last summer with Danny L Harle, we started off with the word ‘Dizzy’ because it just popped into my head and I liked it.

Eurovision Song Contest.Shaul Greenglick was one of three soldiers recently reported dead by the Israel Defense Forces, via The Times Of Israel, following the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.According to Billboard, Greenglick auditioned for Israel’s The Next Star, a singing competition series through which the country’s Eurovision contestant is selected, while on furlough last month.He earned a place in the show’s next round but he reportedly dropped out of the contest in order to return to his military duties.Baruch Dayan HaEmetThis was 26 year old Cpt. (res.) Shaul Greenglick of the Nahal Brigade's 931st Battalion from Raanana who was killed in action in GazaHe was once a contestant on the Israeli singing show called "The Next Star"May his memory be for a blessing pic.twitter.com/GcycIWBCT4— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) December 26, 2023It comes just days after Yotam Haim, the drummer for Israeli heavy metal band Persephore, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces after being mistaken for a Hamas fighter.Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Israeli military have said 170 of its soldiers have been killed.

Olly Alexander has signed a pro-Palestine letter which calls Israel an “apartheid state” and accuses it of genocide.It was revealed at the weekend that the singer and actor would be representing the UK at Eurovision next year in Malmö, Sweden, the hometown of this year’s winner Loreen.Before he was confirmed as the UK’s Eurovision entrant, Alexander had signed an open letter from LGBTQ+ activist group Voices4London, which called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for Israel to allow aid into the area. The letter also condemned “Zionist propaganda” amid the war with Hamas.The letter says: “We are watching a genocide take place in real time.

Eurovision Song Contest has been revealed – you can check it out below.The 68th Eurovision will take place in Malmö, Sweden, with the Grand Final of the competition due to be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024. This week, it was announced that Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander will represent the UK.Today (December 19), Fredrik Stormby from Sweden-based design studio Green Wall Designs has been confirmed as the Lighting and Screen Content Designer for the 2024 contest.The designer will join the senior production team along with production designer FlorianWieder to help create, design and deliver “a large-scale and spectacular show to a global audience of over 160million”.Green Wall Designs, which was co-founded by Stormby, is one of the world’s leading creative studios renowned for creating captivating visual experiences in music and live entertainment.The company specialises in video, lighting and scenic elements, and worked on Loreen’s winning performance at Eurovision 2023 back in May.

Olly Alexander has said he has “got a lot of music ready to go” following the news that he’ll be representing the UK at Eurovision 2024.Earlier this week, it was announced that the Years & Years singer is set to compete in the contest next year in Malmö, Sweden – the hometown of the 2023 winner Loreen. Alexander will succeed the UK’s previous contestant Mae Muller, who finished second to last.Speaking to Magic Breakfast yesterday (December 18), the artist explained (via Music News): “The song that I have for Eurovision I made with Danny L Harle, who’s a brilliant pop producer, and we made basically a whole album.“So I’ve got a lot of music ready to go so I’m so, so excited that it’s coming.”Alexander last released an album in the form of Years & Years’ third studio effort ‘Night Call’, which arrived in early 2022.

Olly Alexander has said shares his hopes to “fly the flag for the country in the gayest way possible” when he performs as the UK’s entry at Eurovision 2024.The Years & Years singer will represent the country next year in Malmö, Sweden – the hometown of this year’s winner Loreen – as revealed during the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend.He will succeed the UK’s previous contestant Mae Muller, who finished second to last in the 2023 competition.The artist previously shared on social media that it was “very difficult to keep quiet”, but that he has “wanted to do this for a long time.”In a statement released Saturday (December 16), the ‘King’ singer vowed to “fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible” and “put on an unforgettable performance”.While details about the song currently remain under wraps, Alexander has confirmed that it was co-written by Danny L Harle, who has produced Dua Lipa‘s new song ‘Houdini‘ alongside Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker.“It’s gonna be electronic, something you can dance to,” Alexander told the BBC. “But I can’t say much more than that.“I just can’t wait to get out there and meet the fans and everyone else taking part,” he added.

Olly Alexander has been announced as the UK’s Eurovision entry for 2024.The Years & Years singer will represent the country next year in Malmö, Sweden, the hometown of this year’s winner Loreen. He will succeed the UK’s previous contestant Mae Muller, who finished second to last in the 2023 competition.On socials, Alexander said it was “very difficult to keep quiet”, but that he has “wanted to do this for a long time.”“It feels like the right moment to start releasing music under my own name”, he added.

Naman Ramachandran Musician and BAFTA nominated actor Olly Alexander will represent the U.K. at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. Alexander revealed the news on Saturday during the finale of BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing.” As a musician, Alexander fronted English band Years & Years, which in recent years has evolved into a solo project.

Olly Alexander, pop star and Bafta-nominated actor in Russell T. Davies drama It’s a Sin, will represent the UK in the next Eurovision Song Contest.