Flood First Cut From BBC Eurovision Competition

UK Press reports have revealed that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber decided not to save professional singer and musician Damien Flood after he was one of the two acts with the fewest votes from the public in the BBC's Eurovision: Your Country Needs You.

The music legend used his casting vote to ensure 17-year-old Charlotte Finlay-Tribe stayed in the contest.

He told London-based pianist Damien, who sang the Michael Bolton hit How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?, he was pipped to the post because of his age.

"I'm really sorry," Lord Lloyd-Webber said. "The reason I chose Charlotte is because she's only 17. She's come such a long way and you are a bit older than her. I think she might learn a lot more in the journey. That's the only reason - I think you are very talented." Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has been asked to bring Eurovision glory back to the shores of the UK, by penning next year's entry. 

In a televised address to the nation in November 2008, Andrew invited Eurovision-wannabes to submit an audition through the BBC website, saying: "The BBC have asked me to unite our kingdom in a quest to bring home the Eurovision Crown once more. I have been asked to write the song but where will I be unless one of you volunteer to sing it?"

The battle to represent the UK will climax in a series of live shows ‘Your Country Needs You' on BBC One, hosted by Graham Norton, where the viewers will have the final say on who will pick up the baton for the country in the Eurovision extravaganza being held in Moscow next May.

It has been over 10 years since the UK last won the contest, but Andrew is looking forward to the challenge, "I have never shied away from the impossible and this looks like the biggest mission impossible of all time. But with the might of the British public behind me, who knows what will happen?"

For more information please visit, www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision.