00s popstar blew UK’s Eurovision chances without even realising-Alistair McGeorge and Tom Stichbury-Entertainment – Metro

Lee Ryan (right) apparently had a howler back in 2011 (Picture: Simone Joyner/Getty Images )

Rylan Clark has revealed how Lee Ryan once messed up the UK’s chances at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The 35-year-old presenter, who is fronting the UK’s coverage of the annual singing competition with Scott Mills as Olly Alexander chases glory this weekend with his track Dizzy, recalled one disastrous performance with Blue in 2011.

The iconic boyband’s entry song I Can caused some problems during the jury show on the eve of the grand final.

‘Not a lot of people know, but there’s a jury show on the Friday… and that’s the one the jury score, Rylan exclusively told Metro.co.uk.

‘There’s that big note that Lee sings and for some reason, I don’t know why, but Lee didn’t understand that it wasn’t a rehearsal… so he just missed that note.

‘He came off and everyone was like, ‘Lee, what the f***?’ And he was like, “I didn’t know!” ‘

Blue represented the UK with their song I Can (Picture: Reuters)

Rylan recalled Lee missing a big note (Picture: Lehtikuva/REX/Shutterstock)

It’s been over two decades since the UK last won Eurovision, with Katrina and the Waves claiming the crown in 1997 with Love Shine a Light.

Sam Ryder came close to clinching the trophy two years ago with Space Man, but last year Mae Muller placed a disappointing 25th out of 26 with I Wrote a Song.

However, Rylan thinks Olly can end Years & Years of disappointment with his entry, and he feels like some people are underestimating him.

Scott Mills and Rylan Clark are expecting big things from Olly Alexander (Picture: Christine Olsson/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)

‘I think people have slept a little bit on Olly when it comes to the Eurovision fandom – that’s not a bad thing,’ he said. ‘Everyone’s saying it’s a good song, but when you’re looking at all the fan odds and things like that, we’re on the left side of the leaderboard.

‘It could be one where people go, “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that!” We had it with Sam… then lo and behold, we started getting douze points, douze points, douze points.’

Scott agreed with his co-host, and insisted this year it’s all open for the taking.

‘People are like, “We’re not number-one in the odds.” Don’t worry about that. Just wait for the show… Last year, for me, there was a clear winner [in Loreen],’ he recalled.

Scott isn’t sure if Nemo will go all the way (Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

‘I don’t think that is the case at all this year… someone who nails it on the night, it’s there for the taking, and yes, that definitely could be Olly. The favourite is The Code [by Nemo] from Switzerland. It’s good, but I’m not convinced it will win.’

When it comes to the future, Scott would love to see one of the UK’s biggest male solo artists step up to the challenge.

‘We’ve had loads of people say they want to do it. Ed Sheeran has said he would do it, but his manager won’t let him,’ he said. ‘Robbie Williams has also said before that he’d do it.’

Scott wants Ed Sheeran, but Rylan is up for the challenge (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

However, Rylan – who rose to fame on The X Factor – admitted he would love to represent his country, and he’s adamant it will happen one day.

‘Look, I’m not going to lie, the day will come where I do it,’ he teased. ‘I do threaten our delegation every single year.

‘If I don’t get a nice enough room, or if I’m not happy with the commentary box location, if we’re not front on, then I always threaten it: “F*** it, next year I’m going for it.”

‘Listen, weirder things have happened. We didn’t think I’d be here, sort of, 12 years on [from X Factor], so who knows what the future holds!’

Rylan and Scott Mills will host BBC Radio 2’s coverage of the Eurovision final on Saturday (May 11).

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