Three young singers have been selected to represent the United Kingdom at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Nice, France on Sunday, 26th November.
After a thorough audition process, Hayla, Maisie, and Yazmin have formed a new girl group called STAND UNIQU3. The trio’s chemistry as a group caught the producers’ attention, marking the first time a group will represent the UK at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Exclusively revealed this morning on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, the song “Back To Life” is penned by songwriters Sky Adams, Jakke Erixson, and Jack Hawitt, known for their work with artists like Jason Derulo, Lauren Spencer Smith, Kylie Minogue, and Ava Max. “Back To Life” revolves around confronting one’s fears.
The trio’s initial interview will be with Scott Mills this afternoon on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. In the lead-up to the live Contest in France, they are scheduled to perform on Blue Peter, Saturday Mash-Up, Strictly – It Takes Two, and BBC Children in Need.
The Contest is produced by BBC Studios and will be broadcasted on BBC Two, CBBC, and BBC iPlayer at 3 pm on Sunday, 26th November.
12-year-old Hayla from Liverpool has a captivating family history associated with the Eurovision Song Contest: her grandfather served as a backing dancer for the 1987 UK entry.
Hayla herself is an avid fan of Rihanna, whom she regards as her greatest inspiration. Alongside her passion for music, Hayla takes delight in football and excels as a striker. Her ideal day would entail indulging in chocolate, watching movies, and spending quality time with her brothers.
13-year-old Maisie from Essex has a penchant for singing, dancing, and acting on stage, and also enjoys clay pigeon shooting with her grandad. She finds solace in collecting crystals.
12-year-old Yazmin from Newcastle is no stranger to performing in front of audiences; she takes pleasure in Latin and Ballroom dancing. Yazmin’s heart is won over by cuddling with her chihuahua Tinkerbell, crafting stories, and going shopping.
The trio learned of their selection to represent the UK when they were pleasantly surprised by BBC Radio 1’s Dean McCullough. They were led to a central London dance studio under the guise of attending one final audition when Dean delivered the news that all three of them had been chosen to go to France in November.
The BBC has confirmed that Lauren Layfield and HRVY will once again serve as the UK commentators.
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education, says: “The Junior Eurovision Song Contest was a real spectacle and success for us last year and we’re very happy that we have a new calendar moment for fans of Eurovision and a brand new girl group for audiences to get behind. We have a great song and high hopes for our brilliant trio, STAND UNIQU3, and we want families everywhere to cheer on Hayla, Maisie and Yazmin and watch them represent the UK in the competition across BBC Two, CBBC and iPlayer.”
Suzy Lamb, MD of Entertainment & Music at BBC Studios, says: “BBC Studios are once again excited to have led the song and artist search for Junior Eurovision after a successful debut year for the BBC in 2022. STAND UNIQU3 are a really fresh girl band who had immediate chemistry during the audition process. With an infectious pop song written by hugely successful writers, matched with STAND UNIQU3’s incredible vocals it promises to be another exciting year for the UK in the Junior contest.”
Last year, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast on the BBC for the first time in the competition’s history. Freya Skye represented the United Kingdom with the song “Lose My Head” at the contest in Yerevan, Armenia, winning the public vote, and coming 5th overall.
The contest, open to youngsters aged between nine and 14, will take place in Nice, France, following Lissandro’s winning performance in 2022 with his song “Oh Maman!”
The winner will be determined by national juries and global online voting. Voting opens on Friday, 24th November, and everyone can vote for three countries. Unlike the main Eurovision Song Contest, people will be able to vote for their own country. Visit junioreurovision.tv for updates.
Commissioned by CBBC and simulcast on BBC Two, CBBC, and BBC iPlayer, the BBC’s coverage of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is a BBC Studios production. It is commissioned by Patricia Hidalgo, Director BBC Children’s and Education and Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+. The Executive Producer and Head Of Delegation is Lee Smithurst. Suzy Lamb is the MD for BBC Studios Entertainment and Music. Pete Ogden is the Creative Director for BBC Studios in the North. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Melissa Hardinge with Nick Hall as Commissioning Executive.
This autumn, a half-hour documentary on CBBC and BBC iPlayer will follow the journey of STAND UNIQU3 to the live contest.
For the latest information on the United Kingdom at Junior Eurovision 2023, follow @CBBC and @BBCEurovision on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. To watch the music video from STAND UNIQU3, visit the official Junior Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel. Follow STAND UNIQU3 on Instagram and TikTok.
