Olly Alexander opens up about always wanting to be a singer and his unique school performance
He's come a long way since then
Last updated 15th Oct 2024
Olly Alexander joined James Barr on Hits Radio to talk about his childhood, growing up in Blackpool, and his early memories of Eurovision. The singer, who represented the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, also explained how it felt to be chosen for the competition.
Reminiscing about an early school performance, where he wrote and performed a song for his school's assembly, Olly explained: "I always, always loved singing – and this is the kind of kid I was - for my Year 6 Assembly I wrote and performed my own original song.
"It was called 'Why Can’t We Be Perfect', I had a little Casio keyboard and a four track cassette tape recorder. I hit on my themes quite early on – unrequited love, feelings of low self-worth…"
The singer also explained how as a kid: "I wanted to be an astronaut because I loved space. I still love space but I found out that I’m colour blind and apparently you can’t go to space if you’re colour blind? And you can’t fly a plane goddamnit but maybe you can now, I have no idea…"
Before becoming a singer, Olly tried out for a role in the hit TV show Skins. Despite not getting the part it set him on his road to success. He explained: "I was on a course at the National Youth Theatre and as part of the course they posted castings you could go to. I went to a casting for Skins, didn’t get the part, but the casting director liked me and said ‘I’ll help you get an agent if you want?’ so she basically put me in touch with an agent and the first casting I went to for them – a kids TV show called Summerhill – I got."
Olly's memories of Eurovision
Reminiscing about his early memories of Eurovision, Olly explained: "It was those years in the 90s, so we had a really great run of like Gina G, Imani, ‘Right Now’ and Precious ‘Say It Again’, and Katrina and The Waves.
"I loved all of those entries, I think they're just like all really fantastic, so like those are kind of my early memories and yeah, it would always just be like, this mad night of chaos that I loved so much."
The ‘Dizzy’ singer went on to reveal that some people thought he was taking a risk with doing Eurovision, but this didn't put Olly off, as he explained: "That's really, like, kind of why it appeals. It's such a unique experience and I'm at a place in my career where I just like, wanna do things that feel kind of different.
"It's quite an honour to be a part of such a gay legacy, I mean, spiritually, it feels correct in my soul."
Speaking ahead of Eurovision, Olly explained he wanted the performance to be one that people will remember. And it certainly was that...
He told James: "I want the performance on the night to be like a bit of a wow moment and for it to be like quite unexpected. So, I'm hoping that people watching will be quite surprised and they won't have seen anything like that before on the Eurovision stage. I'm talking it really big, but it's gonna be great!"
Admitting it was really exciting to find out that one of his songs had been chosen to represent the UK, Olly revealed what happened when he and co-writer Danny L Harle (Carly Rae Jepson, Dua Lipa), found out ‘Dizzy’ had been chosen.
Olly said: "I think we were just like so... we were making all this music together and we were like, oh, wouldn't it be amazing if one of these songs went to Eurovision? So, it was quite a long time, we really wanted it to happen and Danny is a huge Eurovision fan too.
"Like every year he has a Eurovision party, so yeah, when we got the news, we were just like, oh my God. I remember Danny was like, well, this is just the best, it's the best news ever. It's the best you've ever had. I know. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Yeah, we're just so happy."
Take a look through Olly Alexander's career:
2009: Bright Star
Before making it in the music industry, Olly was an actor, he appeared in several films including Bright Star. Olly played the role of Tom Keats, the lead character's brother.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design.
2009: Tormented
Also in 2009, Olly appeared in the film Tormented which starred Tuppence Middleton. He played the role of Jason Banks.
Olly also appeared in films Enter the Void, Dust, The Fades, Gulliver's Travels and The Dish & the Spoon.
2010: Olly Alexander joined Years & Years
Despite still acting, Years & Years formed. Olly Alexander was invited to join the band by Mikey Goldsworthy, who heard him singing in the shower.
2012: Theatre and music work
As well as his on screen acting, Olly also worked on a theatre production of Mercury Fur in 2012.
2012 was also the year that Years & Years released their debut song 'I Wish I Knew' as a five-piece group.
2013: Peter and Alice (theatre)
Olly went on to appear as Peter Pan in the West End play Peter and Alice, which starred Judi Dench. Years later, he would ask Judi to appear in the short film that accompanies Years & Years' album 'Palo Santo'.
Olly also appeared in two episodes of the TV show Skins and the feature film Le Week-End.
2014: God Help the Girl
In 2014, Olly appeared in the lead role of a musical feature film called God Help the Girl. In the film he sang and played the guitar. It follows three friends in Glasgow who form a band.
2015: Years & Years release 'Communion'
In 2015, Years & Years music career was really beginning to take hold. The band (now a trio) released their Number 1 debut album 'Communion' and also their huge hits, 'King' and 'Shine'.
2018: Years & Years released 'If You're Over Me'
Years & Years released 'If You're Over Me', which was another chart success for the band reaching Number 6 in the UK, followed by 'Play' with Jax Jones which reached Number 8.
The band also released 'Palo Santo', their second album. The album was accompanied by a short film which was narrated by Judi Dench.
2021: Olly Alexander stars in It's a Sin
Olly starred in the Channel 4 series It's a Sin about the lives of three young people affected by the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
The singer plays Ritchie, from the Isle of Wight. The 'golden boy' of a middle-class family, Ritchie is heading off to University to study law in London where he finds 'freedom'.
2021: Years & Years performed at The BRITs
Olly, along with the rest of Years & Years performed at The BRIT Awards. The band also released 'It's a Sin' (solo or with Elton John), 'Starstruck' (solo or with Kylie Minogue). Olly also released 'Sweet Talker' with Galantis as the Years & Years solo project.
2021: Years & Years becomes a solo project
In 2021, Years & Years explained that they would be continuing as an 'Olly solo project' which will involve Mikey Goldsworthy playing at the live shows and Emre Türkmen helping with writing/producing.
2021: Years & Years released: 'Starstruck'
Years & Years' first single as a solo project was called 'Starstruck' and released in April 2021. There were two versions of the song, one as a solo track and one with Kylie Minogue, which was released the following month.
2022: Olly Alexander releases his first solo album
The project's first solo album was called 'Night Call', released in January 2022 and debuting at the top of the charts in the UK. It was accompanied by a tour of the same name.
2023: Mighty Hoopla Festival headline slot
Olly headlined the Mighty Hoopla Festival 2023 alongside Destiny's Child legend Kelly Rowland, singing all the band's biggest hits - and even bringing out Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts for a mini reunion!
2023: Olly Alexander announced as the UK's Eurovision 2024 entry
During the Strictly Come Dancing final, Olly Alexander was announced as the UK's Eurovision 2024 entry.
Speaking about the news, Olly said: "I've loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I'm beyond excited to be taking part next year. As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour."
2024: Olly Alexander makes a pit-stop at The Queen Vic
Olly Alexander will appear in an episode of EastEnders. The actor and singer makes a surprise visit in Walford, however his appearance is not the only surprise of the night.
On his guest-appearance, Olly Alexander said: "I'm thrilled to be making my first appearance on EastEnders and in the most iconic pub in the UK. I'm so happy I got to meet some true screen legends and spend time on set with the brilliant cast and crew. I wanted to surprise my mum as it's her favourite show but I guess the cat is out of the bag now, she's gonna love it!"
2024: Olly Alexander represents the UK at Eurovision 2024
Taking to the stage in Malmö on Saturday 11th May, Olly performed his single 'DIzzy' during the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite giving an epic performance, Olly finished in 18th place with just 46 points.
November 2024: Olly performs at Hits Radio Live Birmingham
Olly took to the stage of the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham for Hits Radio Live in November 2024, where he performed his biggest hits and entertained crowds. He joined Sugababes, Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Tom Walker, and Sigala for the Friday night line up.
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