‘Race a factor in losses at Eurovision’

Andrew Lloyd Webber has blamed the UK’s poor record at the Eurovision Song Contest on racism.

The star, 64, spoke out after a string of disappointments in recent years for UK acts including Javine Hylton, Andy Abraham, Jade Ewen and boyband Blue. The impresario co-wrote the song performed by Ewen, who came fifth in 2009.

Asked in a magazine interview what he thought about Britain’s record, Lloyd Webber said: “Did you see the Eurovision Song Contest this year? [when Engelbert Humperdinck narrowly avoided coming last]. If you had seen it, you might have noticed one thing – I don’t think there was one black face on the programme.”

He said: “At the press conference in Moscow [in 2009], I was asked, ‘Why have you brought a black artist?’ I said, ‘I think she’s a major, major star.’

“I think we would have come second, but there’s a problem when you go further east…”

Asked whether he was saying that racism was the reason Britain did not win, he said: “Well, it doesn’t mean that we would necessarily have won that year but we could have come second.

“If you’re talking about Western Europe – fine. But Ukraine? Not so good.”