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| Eurovision: Essex TikTok star Sam Ryder prepares for final | Eurovision: Essex TikTok star Sam Ryder prepares for final |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder, from Essex, counts Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys among his fans | Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder, from Essex, counts Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys among his fans |
| Eurovision contender Sam Ryder has promised to perform with the same energy that made him a social media star when he competes at the weekend. | Eurovision contender Sam Ryder has promised to perform with the same energy that made him a social media star when he competes at the weekend. |
| The 32-year-old, from near Maldon in Essex, will represent the UK during the grand final in Turin, Italy, with his uplifting pop song Space Man. | The 32-year-old, from near Maldon in Essex, will represent the UK during the grand final in Turin, Italy, with his uplifting pop song Space Man. |
| Ryder found fame covering hits on TikTok during lockdown and has gained more than 12 million followers. | Ryder found fame covering hits on TikTok during lockdown and has gained more than 12 million followers. |
| "I'm just excited and grateful to have the [Eurovision] opportunity," he said. | "I'm just excited and grateful to have the [Eurovision] opportunity," he said. |
| "I've got to be real, I didn't have a clue it would be in my stars. | "I've got to be real, I didn't have a clue it would be in my stars. |
| "Space Man was written a year and a half ago, I never intended for it to be a Eurovision song." | "Space Man was written a year and a half ago, I never intended for it to be a Eurovision song." |
| Warning: Third party content may contain adverts | Warning: Third party content may contain adverts |
| Ryder said he was a "big fan" of Eurovision and had fond memories of watching the contest with his family while growing up in the Essex countryside. | Ryder said he was a "big fan" of Eurovision and had fond memories of watching the contest with his family while growing up in the Essex countryside. |
| "My personal goal for this is to sing with the same intention that I always sing with, and then come away with the joy that it has given me," Ryder said. | "My personal goal for this is to sing with the same intention that I always sing with, and then come away with the joy that it has given me," Ryder said. |
| He said he would not let nerves get to him ahead of the big performance. | He said he would not let nerves get to him ahead of the big performance. |
| "I think if I let myself go down that path then it's hard to come back from that," he said. | "I think if I let myself go down that path then it's hard to come back from that," he said. |
| Bookmakers have put Sam Ryder among the frontrunners for success, but Ukraine are current favourites | Bookmakers have put Sam Ryder among the frontrunners for success, but Ukraine are current favourites |
| The UK has featured at the bottom of the Eurovision leaderboard for the past two contests - coming in last place in 2019 with Michael Rice's Bigger Than Us, and James Newman's Embers scoring "nul points" in 2021. | The UK has featured at the bottom of the Eurovision leaderboard for the past two contests - coming in last place in 2019 with Michael Rice's Bigger Than Us, and James Newman's Embers scoring "nul points" in 2021. |
| In 2022, however, Ryder is being given 100/1 odds to score the dreaded zero. | In 2022, however, Ryder is being given 100/1 odds to score the dreaded zero. |
| 'Boost of energy' | |
| As the most followed UK music artist on TikTok, he has won famous fans including Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys. | As the most followed UK music artist on TikTok, he has won famous fans including Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys. |
| "It just started in my mum's kitchen," he said. | "It just started in my mum's kitchen," he said. |
| "I sang Britney Spears's Hit Me Baby One More Time as high as I could and then I woke up the next morning and two million people had seen it. | "I sang Britney Spears's Hit Me Baby One More Time as high as I could and then I woke up the next morning and two million people had seen it. |
| "Mum was terrified the kitchen was a mess. It wasn't, it was spotless. | "Mum was terrified the kitchen was a mess. It wasn't, it was spotless. |
| "It kind of snowballed from there. | "It kind of snowballed from there. |
| "I never imagined it could lead to the point it's led to now and I wouldn't be stood on the Eurovision stage without it." | "I never imagined it could lead to the point it's led to now and I wouldn't be stood on the Eurovision stage without it." |
| Ryder co-wrote Space Man with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge, who has previously worked with Ed Sheeran | Ryder co-wrote Space Man with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge, who has previously worked with Ed Sheeran |
| Ryder said he started posting on TikTok as "just a bit of fun" and was shocked when he received support from global superstars. | Ryder said he started posting on TikTok as "just a bit of fun" and was shocked when he received support from global superstars. |
| "I remember getting a message from Justin Bieber saying 'hey, I just sent your video to Sia' and then she posted it on her Instagram page - she was just so kind and encouraging. | "I remember getting a message from Justin Bieber saying 'hey, I just sent your video to Sia' and then she posted it on her Instagram page - she was just so kind and encouraging. |
| "And something like that for a singer who's waiting to have their moment - essentially that means everything from your hero, giving you the nod of approval lights a fire in you." | "And something like that for a singer who's waiting to have their moment - essentially that means everything from your hero, giving you the nod of approval lights a fire in you." |
| The Eurovision 2022 grand final will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Saturday 14 May from 20:00 BST. | The Eurovision 2022 grand final will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Saturday 14 May from 20:00 BST. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |