Veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck to represent UK at Eurovision

PanARMENIAN.Net - Veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, whose last top 10 hit was 42 years ago has been chosen as the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, Sky News reported.

The 75-year-old star, who famously held The Beatles off number one in 1967, has been chosen by the BBC to take part in the contest. He follows boy band Blue who finished 11th last year, behind Ireland's Jedward - who are due to take part again this year.

Humperdinck said: "I'm excited and raring to go."

The perma-tanned heartthrob - whose hits include Release Me and The Last Waltz - will take part in Azerbaijan in May.

The unnamed song is being written by Sacha Skarbek - who teamed up with James Blunt to compose his global hit You're Beautiful - and Grammy-winning producer Martin Terefe. The track will be recorded in London, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Humperdinck - famed for his bushy sideburns - has sold more than 150 million records around the world and continues to tour.

The BBC hopes that using an established name will help the UK's fortunes at the 57th contest, expected to be viewed by 120 million.

The last UK win was in 1997 when Katrina And The Waves - fronted by American singer Katrina Leskanich - took the honours with Love Shine A Light.

According to The Telegraph, fans have been left divided over the decision.

Reaction to the BBC's announcement that the man who last had a top 20 hit in 1972 would represent Britain at the song contest was met with a mixture of surprise, praise and barely concealed incredulation.

The topic became a talking point around water coolers and on the internet on Friday as people digested the news that the UK entry had taken a radical new direction.

At one stage Humperdinck's name was the top "trending" topic on Twitter, the micro-blogging site, while the hashtag Eurovision was also among the most talked about phrases.

On Friday British bookmakers William Hill slashed the price of the United Kingdom winning the Eurovision Song Contest from 25/1 to 16/1. Fans flooded the market after the announcement and the UK is now fourth favorites behind Denmark at 9/1, Ireland 10/1 and Norway 10/1.