Social media star Sam Ryder will be representing the UK at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.
The news was announced on Greg James' Radio 1 Breakfast Show on Thursday morning by Eurovision superfan Scott Mills.
Essex native Sam, 31, has built up a whopping 12 million followers on TikTok after entertaining fans with rousing covers of artists such as Adele, Michael Jackson and Blondie throughout the pandemic.
Making the announcement, Scott told listeners: "We need to get behind our act this year because everyone else does.
"Stop sneering - even if you don't like it," he went on. "The more we follow this person and we get behind them together all of us, like we would England or Scotland or Ireland at the Word Cup, the more we can impact how well they are known abroad.
"I believe that this our best shot in years," he added. "Europe doesn't see the contest the way we do and that's got to change."
Sam will be performing Space Man, which contains soaring vocals and plenty of falsetto, at the Eurovision final in Turin, Italy on May 14.
The UK will be hoping for better luck this year after winding up bottom of the leaderboard in 2021.
Singer James Newman finished in last place with zero points, the second time this has happened to the UK.
Addressing the embarrassment, Scott said: "Yes we haven't done well recently but that's partly because in the UK we don't get behind our act. And we need to because everyone else does.
"They look at us in Europe and think, 'Why aren't they supporting their act? We are!' We need to be proud.
"Let's be positive."
Hopeful Sam already has amassed a huge fan base and was the most viewed UK artist on TikTok in 2020.
His breakthrough moment came when he posted a version of Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time, which got him noticed by he likes of Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys.
Sam's cover of What's Going on, by 4NonBlondes has been watched 55million times.
Speaking after the announcement today, Sam said: "Having been a fan of Eurovision since I was a kid l I am so honoured to have been presented with the opportunity to sing at an event alongside some of Europe’s most talented creatives, performers and songwriters.
"I hope to sing my head off in a way the UK can be proud of, and to showcase a song I wrote with my friends last summer makes the whole experience even more special. See you in Turin legends!”
Rumours started swirling that Sam would represent the UK after he cancelled a string of gigs in the run-up to Eurovision.
He also axed a gig in Glasgow scheduled for the day after.
Following a schedule shake-up, Sam will now be touring Europe ahead of the ceremony to boost support for his campaign.
He has booked several festival dates for after the contest including Portsmouth's Victorious Festival in August.
