Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey has revealed that he was bizarrely once turned down for the Eurovision Song Contest by the BBC.
The comedian's admission comes after he put himself forward to be the UK's Eurovision entry next year, following last weekend's less-than-impressive nil points result.
Taking to Twitter over the weekend, the star wrote: "I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring for #Eurovision 2022."
Related: Strictly Come Dancing star Bill Bailey reflects on winning 2020 series
Appearing on today's (May 25) Good Morning Britain, Bill revealed his own history with the contest, recalling: "A few years ago I sent in an entry to Eurovision and it was a kind of spoof eco anthem in the style of Dad's Army, and the BBC said it's too silly, we can't have that.
"I just thought, 'This taking it seriously, that's not going well either, is it?'"
Fair point, Bill.
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The star went on to describe the UK's 2021 entry – James Newman's 'Embers' – as a "serviceable song and performance".
"But I think we're missing a trick. I think we need to celebrate a bit of eccentricity, the kind of quirkiness and Britishness that doesn't really seem to be coming across. It's very well produced and put together, but it's a bit underwhelming, it's a bit bland."
Bill further teased his own ideas, adding: "There's always something percolating in my mind, a song, a rock song, something that celebrates... maybe we have a giant badger.
"I don't know what it is but we're not taking it seriously enough and taking it too seriously – we've got it the wrong way round.
"We should focus on the performance, on the visuals of it, make it into a huge big celebration of Britishness that sends it up a bit as well. And with some great hooks. Maybe some guitars, maybe some cowbells. There's not enough car horns in it, I don't think."
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 aired on BBC One and streamed on YouTube.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
