The pressures of following a British Eurovision entrant who nearly won, the UK hosting on Ukraine’s behalf and performing last on the night will not faze Mae Muller, the singer insists.
The 25-year-old is hoping her performance of I Wrote A Song will see her go one better than UK contestant Sam Ryder, who came second with Space Man last year.
Muller, whose song debuted at number 30 in the UK singles charts in March, said she feared the challenge of being chosen for tonight’s contest could leave her ‘freaked out’.
She said: ‘I feel everything that could put pressure on me, that I could get freaked out about, is actually absolutely amazing.
‘The fact Sam Ryder did so well, that we’re hosting, that I’m performing last in the show… it’s really beautiful, amazing.’
Mae Muller told how she hopes to make the UK proud as she prepared for the Eurovisional final
Muller, whose song debuted at number 30 in the UK singles charts in March, said she feared the challenge of being chosen for tonight’s contest could leave her ‘freaked out’
The 25-year-old is hoping her performance of I Wrote A Song will see her go one better than UK contestant Sam Ryder (pictured), who came second with Space Man last year.
It comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the event, said it had declined Mr Zelensky’s request to speak on Saturday over fears it could politicise the contest
Muller, from London, did not comment on the row about whether Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky should have been allowed to give a video message at tonight’s final – which organisers the European Broadcasting Union refused fearing it would politicise the event.
But, speaking at a press conference, she added that representing the UK when Britain is hosting on Ukraine’s behalf is ‘a huge honour’.
Muller said she had also been moved seeing ‘just as many Ukrainian flags in the streets as British ones’.
‘This is what Eurovision is about, it’s about people supporting each other,’ she added.
Muller is currently 10th favourite to win with odds of 40/1. Sweden are favourites, followed by Finland and Ukraine.
It comes as thousands from far and wide gathered for hours in the beating sun today at the city’s historic Pier Head venue.
Flash mob choirs, musical performers and DJs have popped up all around the city as the countdown to the main event comes to an end.
There were cheers from fans draped in Union Jack flags as many hope Mae Muller can beat the Swedish favourite Loreen.
Some ran straight to the stage front to secure a prime spot to watch the grand final as it gets underway at 8pm.
Fans dressed as last year’s Ukrainian winners Kalush Orchestra and families donned in Union Jack and Ukrainian flags paraded through the fan village in the build up to the show.
Twenty-six acts will perform at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to an expected global audience of 160 million viewers, according to the BBC, after the UK agreed to host the contest on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
Union Jack flags filled the crowds today, with many Brits routing for singer Mae Muller
There were cheers from fans dressed as Ukrainian acts Verka Serduchka and Kalush Orchestra and families in Union flag outfits
Excited fans gathered together in the countdown to tonight’s big final
It comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the event, said it had declined Mr Zelensky’s request to speak on Saturday over fears it could politicise the contest.
He had wanted to make an unannounced video appearance and had been expected to implore the global audience of millions to continue backing his country in its fight to repel Russian invaders.
The EBU said Mr Zelensky had ‘laudable intentions’ but ‘regrettably’ his request was against the rules.
The move prompted criticism from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his predecessor Boris Johnson, among other figures.
