UK's Eurovision star Olly Alexander says he is 'ambivalent' about the Union Jack flag as it can feel 'divisive' and 'nationalist'
- He previously signed a letter than branded Israel an 'apartheid regime'
The UK's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest has said he is 'ambivalent' about the Union Jack as it can feel 'divisive' and 'nationalist'.
Olly Alexander, who will perform dance track Dizzy in the competition, said he would like to 'reclaim' the Union Jack 'in a positive way'.
The performer, who starred in Channel 4 drama It's A Sin, added that when he is waving the flag at the parade it will be 'for all the good things' that have come from being British.
Alexander's political views previously came under the spotlight after it emerged he had signed a letter that branded Israel an 'apartheid regime' and condemning 'Zionist propaganda'.
In March, he declined calls from campaigners that he should boycott the contest in protest about Israel taking part.
The UK's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest has said he is 'ambivalent' about the Union Jack as it can feel 'divisive' and 'nationalist'
Pictured: Olly Alexander onstage during the London Eurovision Party 2024
Alexander's political views previously came under the spotlight after it emerged he had signed a letter that branded Israel an 'apartheid regime' and condemning 'Zionist propaganda'
Last week the 33-year-old cried during an interview when he was asked about the way campaigners had put pressure on him to not participate.
The Years and Years singer said in a new interview he had an 'ambivalent relationship with the Union Jack. He said the flag could feel 'divisive' and 'nationalist'.
He said: 'I hope to like reclaim like the Union Jack, in a positive way.' Alexander added: 'When I'm going to be out there waving my flag... at the parade, like it's for all the good things that have come from growing up in the UK and being British.'
This year's competition is taking place in Malmo after Swedish singer Loreen's song Tattoo won the contest last year.
In the interview Alexander also admitted his odds of being crowned winner in the singing competition look 'low'.
The pop star, speaking before his first performance, said: 'I saw that one of my odds said that I had like a 1% chance of winning so I like those odds,' he said. 'It's better than zero?'
'I think it's all kind of part of the drama, kind of quite like the sort of the drama of the odds," he added.
This year's competition is taking place in Malmo after Swedish singer Loreen's song Tattoo won the contest last year
'My odds are low, but don't count... me out just yet.' Alexander has been given odds of 60/1 by bookmakers Paddy Power to win.
Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine have been classed as the favourites, while Italy, Netherlands, France, Ireland and Israel are all being given more chance than the UK.
The singer, whose routine is set in a locker room, said as an artist he loved to 'provoke a little bit' and cause 'a little bit of discussion and intrigue'.
He added: 'And of course, I said right at the beginning of this process, I plan to be as gay as possible. And what's gayer than a locker room?
'And I just want, mainly, to entertain people and to give a really fab performance and, of course, like, not everyone's gonna love it, but I think that's a sign of a strong performance really.'
This year's event happens in Sweden in the year of the 50-year anniversary of Swedish group Abba winning the competition in 1974 with Waterloo.
There will be two semi-finals that will be broadcast live tonight and on Thursday before Saturday's final.
