TWO-time Eurovision winner Loreen has told us Brits to rediscover our former glory at the contest by following her home country’s selection process.
It was another dismal night for the UK when Look Mum No Computer — aka Sam Battle — came last in Vienna on Saturday.
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Swedish singer Loreen has insisted the UK must let the public decide which entry gets sent to Eurovision Credit: AFP
Look Mum No Computer, aka Sam Battle, came last in Vienna Credit: Splash
Now Swedish singer Loreen has insisted the UK must let the public decide which entry gets sent to the contest, with an in-depth televised competition to choose the act and song in 2027.
For six decades, a six-week competition called Melodifestivalen has been used to pick Sweden’s entry.
And the results speak for themselves, with seven wins and the most top-five finishes in the 21st century, at 13.
Loreen said in an exclusive interview: “In Sweden, the people choose the entrant.
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“They choose the one they want representing them at the Eurovision and that gives an indication of what works.
“I don’t find it fair if it’s a record label choosing, they don’t know what works.
“People know what works because people are the ones who listening to the song.
“You guys should have a contest to have people vote for the ones they really like.
“I think then you have a bigger chance of winning.”
At points in the Noughties, the UK act was chosen on a TV show called Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up.
But the issue with that is none of the acts competing were much good in the first place, so we need to buck up our ideas for 2027.
National finals have proved popular across Europe, with 23 countries using the process to choose their act, including Bulgaria’s 2026 winner Dara and runner-up Noam Bettan, for Israel.
Loreen, who first won in 2012 with Euphoria and then lifted the trophy again in 2023 with Tattoo, said acts can fall short if people don’t buy into their performances.
She added: “I would say don’t stand on that stage if you can’t own it.
“You need to authentically love it and you can’t compromise on your creativity, which basically means if you’ve been chosen, you need to tell your truth.
“If you want to have the biggest chance to win, be authentic.
“Don’t try to be strategic. You’ve got to really use this moment because people are watching. We’re not gonna waste people’s time.”
The BBC needs to have a proper think for next year, because there are plenty of talented people who could give it a good shot.
US-born West End performer Marisha Wallace has already thrown her name into the mix.
She wrote on X: “Well, I’m a British citizen. Can I represent the UK in Eurovision and at least get us 1 point?”
I know we can do better than a single point if we really get clever about it.
SHANIA’S TWAIN SET
Shania Twain squeezed five outfit changes into one night Credit: Getty
Queen of country glam Shania was hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas Credit: Getty
One of Shania’s outfits included this shimmering gold gown Credit: Getty
SHANIA TWAIN proved she’s still the queen of country glam after squeezing five outfit changes into one night while hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
The Don’t Impress Me Much singer strutted on to the red carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a silver sequinned gown featuring leaf patterns and a giant black cat stalking across the skirt.
And she was only getting started.
Shania kept the costume changes coming with a string of increasingly dramatic looks, including a shimmering gold gown, a sheer white floral number and a darker embroidered dress.
Her final look of the night was a black satin gown dripping in rhinestones and sequins.
Shania wore a sheer white floral number Credit: Getty
She was also spotted in a darker embroidered dress Credit: Getty
Breakout singer Ella Langley dominated the show, winning five awards including Song of the Year for Choosin’ Texas.
But given that Shania has won 15 ACM awards during her career, she’s earned the right to make it all about her.
SELENA SHOP SHOCK
Selena Gomez appeared in one of London’s busiest shopping spots Credit: Getty
SELENA GOMEZ sent fans into meltdown after sneakily popping up in one of London’s busiest shopping spots.
The singer and actress stunned in an elegant tasselled outfit for a Rare Beauty event at Space NK’s store in Oxford Street.
She joined a group of influencers, including Princess Andre, to celebrate her new campaign 48 Stories, One Community.
Selena, who later headed to a restaurant in Mayfair, said: “Seeing everyone together made me emotional. It was such a beautiful reminder that our community is not one story, one shade or one definition of beauty.”
KENDALL AND JACOB HEAD TO LOVE ISLAND HAWAII
SHOWBIZ’S hottest new couple Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi are far more than a one-off fling, having flown to romantic Hawaii together.
They sent tongues wagging after kissing at Justin Bieber’s Coachella after-party last month.
The pair appeared to confirm they are an item as they were seen relaxing on a beach while sharing a drink earlier this month, in snaps that have only just emerged.
That’s not all, though, as this weekend they went on a double date with Kendall’s sister Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend, Marty Supreme actor Timothee Chalamet.
The foursome make quite the A-list group and were spotted driving around LA in the same car.
While Kendall is a successful model and Kylie is a multi-millionaire thanks to her cosmetics company, Wuthering Heights leading man Jacob and Timothee are two of the most in-demand names in Hollywood.
I have no doubt these romances will help them become even more famous.
After dates with Kendall, and an on-screen romance with Sydney Sweeney in Euphoria, I’m sure Jacob is the envy of many men across the globe.
SHAKIRA: MY LIPS DON’T LIE
Shakira has been acquitted of fraud in Spain after an eight-year ordeal Credit: Getty
SHAKIRA’s eight-year tax ordeal is finally over after she was acquitted of fraud in Spain.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer could now be in for a cash windfall as the nation’s High Court said she should be reimbursed £48million in wrongly imposed fines, as well as interest and legal fees.
The claims are linked to 2011, when it was claimed she did not pay adequate income tax.
But authorities failed to prove the Colombian spent more than 183 days there that year to be considered a tax resident.
Shakira, who was in a relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique from 2010 to 2022, insisted she had no home in Spain at the time and was actually on a world tour.
Now she’s won her battle to prove her innocence.
She said: “After more than eight years of enduring brutal public targeting, orchestrated campaigns to destroy my reputation, and sleepless nights that ultimately impacted my health and my family’s well-being, the National High Court has finally set the record straight.
“There was never any fraud, and the administration itself could never prove otherwise, simply because it wasn’t true. Yet for nearly a decade, I was treated as guilty.”
Investigations into the singer were announced in 2018, claiming she had failed to pay income tax while she lived in Barcelona between 2012 and 2014.
In November 2023, she reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial on those charges, meaning she won’t get that cash back.
Since then, she has rebuilt her life and is on the biggest tour of her career, gearing up to headline the World Cup half-time show in July.
She will return to Spain in September for 12 nights at the purpose-built Shakira Stadium in Madrid, so has the last laugh.
MUSIC TO CHARLI’S EARS
Charli XCX has landed a deal with tech company Nothing Credit: Nothing/Aidan Zamiri
CHARLI XCX is sound as a pound in these headphones after landing a deal with tech company Nothing.
The singer has become a global ambassador for the brand – and posed in its cans that have a five-day battery life.
But you won’t need that long to listen to her latest single Rock Music, as it clocks in at just one minute, 55 seconds.
Despite a mixed reaction to the song online, she seems pretty chuffed about it.
Charli, who releases another song, SS26, on Thursday, said: “I love talking about music and art with my friends, so I’m happy people are throwing out thoughts.
“I’m not gonna explain where I was coming from with Rock Music, but all I know is that things can be funny, earnest, sincere, and joyful all at the same time and that’s what I feel about a lot of the things I make.”
JESSE’S 20 JARS OF GUINNESS
The Neighbourhood’s Jesse Rutherford claims he drank 20 Guinnesses before the band’s Dublin gig Credit: Getty
JESSE RUTHERFORD necked “20 Guinnesses” before taking to the stage as The Neighbourhood took Dublin by storm.
The Sweater Weather band wrapped up the European leg of their world tour with a sold-out show in front of 13,000 screaming fans in the Irish capital on Jattvibeday.
Frontman Jesse said he fully embraced Irish culture ahead of the gig, by sinking pint after pint of the black stuff. But if he had a sore head, you couldn’t tell.
He told the crowd: “This is the last night of this part of the tour, so thank you for sharing them with us.
“I had, like, 20 Guinnesses last night.
“It was great.”
Sounds like my kind of night out.
BIZARRE TWIST BY MADGE
One of Madonna’s new tracks is called Bizarre, just like our showbiz column Credit: Getty
WE’VE been writing about Madonna for decades – and now it seems she’s repaying the favour.
The singer has announced the tracklisting for upcoming album Confessions On A Dancefloor: Part II, and the tenth song is called Bizarre.
But we’ll sadly have to wait until the record is released on July 3 before finding out whether it includes lyrics about her favourite showbiz column.
The deluxe version will feature 16 tracks, with other titles including Read My Lips, Fragile, My Sins Are My Savior, Betrayal and L.E.S. Girl.
She’s already released I Feel So Free and her Sabrina Carpenter collaboration Bring Your Love and from what I heard of a handful of the other tracks at an event in London last week, fans won’t be disappointed.
K-POP band ATEEZ will headline BST Hyde Park on June 28 – which is their only UK show this year.
The eight-strong group, who have had four UK Top Ten albums since 2023, will play songs from their 2025 album Ashes To Light.
Tickets for the London show go on sale on Friday, May 29.
