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Talking Shop: Andrew Lloyd Webber | Talking Shop: Andrew Lloyd Webber |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber has signed up to compose the UK's 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry. | Andrew Lloyd Webber has signed up to compose the UK's 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry. |
And, as part of a new BBC show entitled Your Country Needs You, the 60-year-old will also help select a performer to compete in Moscow in May. | And, as part of a new BBC show entitled Your Country Needs You, the 60-year-old will also help select a performer to compete in Moscow in May. |
Viewers can vote on who they want to represent them out of six acts who have already been lined up for the series. | Viewers can vote on who they want to represent them out of six acts who have already been lined up for the series. |
Lloyd Webber says he does not expect to win Eurovision | Lloyd Webber says he does not expect to win Eurovision |
What made you want to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest? | What made you want to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest? |
I thought it would be fun. | I thought it would be fun. |
We're not going to win it, let's face it. I don't think that's possible, but at the same time we could have a laugh along the way. | We're not going to win it, let's face it. I don't think that's possible, but at the same time we could have a laugh along the way. |
It's Eurovision. I think secretly everybody watches it and secretly everybody has a bit of a laugh about it. | It's Eurovision. I think secretly everybody watches it and secretly everybody has a bit of a laugh about it. |
I'm just looking forward to being in Moscow with Graham, because I know we'll get up to no good. | I'm just looking forward to being in Moscow with Graham, because I know we'll get up to no good. |
During recording the show you travelled to Russia to meet with prime minister Valdimir Putin - what did you talk about? | During recording the show you travelled to Russia to meet with prime minister Valdimir Putin - what did you talk about? |
I have his personal vote for the UK. | I have his personal vote for the UK. |
I tried to get him to guarantee the nation's vote, but he was at pains to point out that Russia is a democratic country these days, and he couldn't speak for his people. | I tried to get him to guarantee the nation's vote, but he was at pains to point out that Russia is a democratic country these days, and he couldn't speak for his people. |
At which point I asked him what he was going to do about this. | At which point I asked him what he was going to do about this. |
But you'll see all this in my interview, because I pointed out that Russia can't vote for itself, and it would be helpful in my view, for UK and Russia to work together. | But you'll see all this in my interview, because I pointed out that Russia can't vote for itself, and it would be helpful in my view, for UK and Russia to work together. |
Why do you think Eurovision has such a poor reputation in the UK? | Why do you think Eurovision has such a poor reputation in the UK? |
It's because our entries have been absolute and total rubbish. | It's because our entries have been absolute and total rubbish. |
I get a little bit of an advantage because I've got quite a lot of shows running round Europe so I have got a kind of grass roots support. | I get a little bit of an advantage because I've got quite a lot of shows running round Europe so I have got a kind of grass roots support. |
I canvassed all the casts in my shows and they said the reason why they don't vote for Britain is because we don't bother. They resent it. | I canvassed all the casts in my shows and they said the reason why they don't vote for Britain is because we don't bother. They resent it. |
Let's face it, some of the acts have been rather ludicrous, but from their point of view, what we've done to Eurovision is almost worse. | Let's face it, some of the acts have been rather ludicrous, but from their point of view, what we've done to Eurovision is almost worse. |
What is the secret to a good Eurovision song? | What is the secret to a good Eurovision song? |
I'm just looking forward to being in Moscow with Graham, because I know we'll get up to no good Andrew Lloyd Webber | I'm just looking forward to being in Moscow with Graham, because I know we'll get up to no good Andrew Lloyd Webber |
I don't plan to follow any rules like including a key change or following a structure. | I don't plan to follow any rules like including a key change or following a structure. |
You know every country is going to include everything from roller-skating to pole vaulting. | |
I don't think we should go that way. I think that if we've got a chance to do anything, then we should really be about the song and the performer. | I don't think we should go that way. I think that if we've got a chance to do anything, then we should really be about the song and the performer. |
I'm quite pleased because I think the final acts that we've got there are potentially several artists with a long-term career. | I'm quite pleased because I think the final acts that we've got there are potentially several artists with a long-term career. |
But last year's contestant Andy Abraham did not use gimmicks and he still came joint last. | But last year's contestant Andy Abraham did not use gimmicks and he still came joint last. |
I didn't actually see that one, but I did hear the song and I don't think that's really quite what we want. | I didn't actually see that one, but I did hear the song and I don't think that's really quite what we want. |
What we have to is get the best song that we possibly can do, find the best artist we possibly can and then stage it in the best possible way. | What we have to is get the best song that we possibly can do, find the best artist we possibly can and then stage it in the best possible way. |
Now, if that means we need a thousand roller-skaters behind us, then that's what we'll have to do, but I somehow doubt it. | Now, if that means we need a thousand roller-skaters behind us, then that's what we'll have to do, but I somehow doubt it. |
What sort of act are you hoping to put forward? | What sort of act are you hoping to put forward? |
Well the six acts are so different that it wouldn't be possible to describe how different they are. | Well the six acts are so different that it wouldn't be possible to describe how different they are. |
And it would be wrong for me to say what they are at the moment, because you'll see when the show starts. | And it would be wrong for me to say what they are at the moment, because you'll see when the show starts. |
Do you think people care enough about Eurovision to want to vote? | Do you think people care enough about Eurovision to want to vote? |
We'll see, I don't know. I rather feel it's a slight make or break and I think it would be a shame if it ended. | We'll see, I don't know. I rather feel it's a slight make or break and I think it would be a shame if it ended. |
It would be good if it got back to be what it was intended to be, which was a song contest. | It would be good if it got back to be what it was intended to be, which was a song contest. |
People forget that it has thrown up some extremely good songs over the years. Particularly in the early years of its existence. | People forget that it has thrown up some extremely good songs over the years. Particularly in the early years of its existence. |
Andy Abraham came joint last in 2008's Eurovision contest | Andy Abraham came joint last in 2008's Eurovision contest |
It launched Abba, and the success of Abba may not have happened if it had not been for Eurovision. | It launched Abba, and the success of Abba may not have happened if it had not been for Eurovision. |
What's your favourite Eurovision song? | What's your favourite Eurovision song? |
A song that no one would remember. A song called Are You Sure? by The Allisons, who came second. | A song that no one would remember. A song called Are You Sure? by The Allisons, who came second. |
I remember that, because I was a kid in school at the time, and I remember thinking what a shame it was that Britain didn't win it that year. | I remember that, because I was a kid in school at the time, and I remember thinking what a shame it was that Britain didn't win it that year. |
It is a very, very good song. | It is a very, very good song. |
Are you worried the public may vote for the underdog in the series just like they did in Strictly Come Dancing? | Are you worried the public may vote for the underdog in the series just like they did in Strictly Come Dancing? |
I don't think so, because with my shows so far the public has voted for the best candidate. | I don't think so, because with my shows so far the public has voted for the best candidate. |
All of the acts we've got could do it. | All of the acts we've got could do it. |
Are you worried the public have lost trust in voting for BBC shows after various phoneline scandals? | Are you worried the public have lost trust in voting for BBC shows after various phoneline scandals? |
I can tell you that the BBC haven't really done anything wrong here. They just got some things muddled up. | I can tell you that the BBC haven't really done anything wrong here. They just got some things muddled up. |
In fact what the BBC have done is entirely honourable. | In fact what the BBC have done is entirely honourable. |
They saw a mathematical problem and a lot of programmes wouldn't have even mentioned it. So, if I was to say anything about the BBC, they're too honest about these things. | They saw a mathematical problem and a lot of programmes wouldn't have even mentioned it. So, if I was to say anything about the BBC, they're too honest about these things. |
Your Country Needs You begins on BBC One at 1910 GMT on 3 January. | Your Country Needs You begins on BBC One at 1910 GMT on 3 January. |