United Kingdom in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023

The United Kingdom is set to compete in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in France, which will be held on 26 November 2023 in Nice. National broadcaster BBC is responsible for their participation and selected the nation's song and artist via internal selection.[1]

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023
Country United Kingdom
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)19 October 2023
Selected entrantSTAND UNIQU3
Selected song"Back to Life"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Sky Adams
  • Jakke Erixson
  • Jack Hawitt
United Kingdom in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
◄2022 • 2023

Background

Prior to the 2023 contest, the United Kingdom had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest four times since its first entry in the inaugural contest in 2003, with their best result being in 2004 when they finished in second position with the song "The Best is Yet to Come", performed by Cory Spedding.[2] The United Kingdom was due to host the event in Manchester in 2004, but pulled out due to financial and scheduling issues.[3][4] In the 2005 contest, Joni Fuller represented the country in Hasselt, Belgium with the song "How Does It Feel?". The song ended 14th out of 16 entries with 28 points.[5]

ITV, the national broadcaster responsible for the first three participations, withdrew from the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, after poor viewing figures in 2004 and 2005. Wales took part independently in the 2018 and 2019 contests. On 25 August 2022, it was confirmed that the UK would return for the 2022 contest in Yerevan, with the BBC replacing ITV as the country’s participating broadcaster.[6][7] Freya Skye represented the United Kingdom at the 2022 contest with the song "Lose my Head", placing 5th out of 16 countries with 146 points, and winning the online vote with 80 points.[8]

Before Junior Eurovision

On 29 August 2023, BBC confirmed its participation in the 2023 contest and announced that the selection process for the song and artist was underway.[9] On 19 October 2023, it was revealed that the United Kingdom would be represented by STAND UNIQU3, a group consisting of members Maisie, Yazmin and Hayla, and formed especially for Junior Eurovision following a series of auditions.[10] Their song, "Back to Life", was released the same day. All three members of the group had previously appeared on the seventh season of The Voice Kids UK.[11] They are the first non-solo act to represent the United Kingdom in the Junior Eurovision song contest.[12]

References
  1. Anthony Granger (13 October 2023). "United Kingdom: Junior Eurovision 2023 Entry Reveal on October 19". Eurovoix.
  2. "Country Profile: United Kingdom". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. "Confirmation of Manchester as original host". 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012.
  4. "'Junior contest not to take place in Manchester.'". Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. "Final of Hasselt 2005". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. "United Kingdom returns to Junior Eurovision". Junioreurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 25 August 2022.
  7. "United Kingdom confirms participation in Junior Eurovision 2022 as contest comes to BBC for first time". BBC Media Centre. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. "Final of Yerevan 2022 - Eurovision Song Contest". Junioreurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  9. "The BBC will broadcast the 2023 Junior Eurovision Song Contest live from France, as the UK confirms participation". BBC Media Centre. 19 August 2023.
  10. "Girl group Stand Uniqu3 to represent UK at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023". Shropshire Star. 19 October 2023.
  11. "STAND UNIQU3: True or False?". CBBC. 19 October 2023.
  12. "STAND UNIQU3". junioreurovision.tv.
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