‘I WANT TO WORK WITH DUA LIPA NEXT'

Singer/songwriter James Newman on representing the UK at this year’s Eurovision and working with “great guy” Ed Sheeran

- ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

James Newman was gutted when the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. But now he’s been re-elected to represent the UK in 2021, he tells new he can’t wait to get on stage and perform his single Embers.

“The aim was to give people escapism from such a rubbish year,” he says of the upbeat track.

The 35-year-old BRIT award winner has already written hits for Little Mix and Ed Sheeran, but says he’s just getting started.

Here, James tells new about growing up in a musical family and reveals his dream collaborations...

Hi, James! You must be happy to be re-elected for Eurovision…

It’s amazing. I was gutted when it got cancelled last year, but I spoke to my label in the summer and they said, “The BBC really wants you to do it again.” I was buzzing!

Can you tell us what your single Embers is about?