World

“They’ve got something remarkable that only brothers and sisters can have,” he adds.
The youngest of the bunch, Charlotte Finlay-Tribe, tackles a “brave” song choice with great passion and verve.
“I’ll have to write a different song for each one of them,” says the composer, who has assembled an eclectic clutch of singers keen to take on the Eurovision
challenge.
Add in Damien Flood, a 36-year-old with a powerful voice, and R&B starlet Jade Ewen, who eases her way through Beyonce’s Deja Vu – the field is wide open.
“All my kids can sing,” concludes Lloyd Webber, who promises the live shows will contain no tricks.
“I work with my artists unlike Simon Cowell,” he adds of his talent show rival, adding his charges can ring him for advice “night and day”.
But the musical Lord admits that he is unable to text and cannot get to grips with mobile phones.
The singers are all gunning for success on the show, with some of them saying that the involvement of the lord has given Eurovision “more credibility”.
“Andrew doing this really swayed me,” says Damien, also a pianist who has worked as a backing singer and been on the West End stage.
While Your Country Needs You will determine the winning act on 31 January, Lloyd Webber says the road to Moscow has only just begun.
He is down to three lyricists – one of whom will work with him to produce the UK’s Eurovision entry, which will be unveiled at a later date.
Lloyd Webber added that a European promotional tour for our act and song is a “top priority” in a bid to make the UK’s effort known before the big night in Russia.
But five months ahead of the Eurovision final, the action centres on BBC Television Centre for now.
It’s a long way to Moscow.
The first live show of Your Country Needs You is on Saturday, 10 January at 1840 GMT on BBC One.