James Newman to represent the UK at Eurovision 2020 with song recorded on the banks of a Scottish loch

James Newman has been announced as the latest act to try to avoid the dreaded nul points for the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The singer / songwriter said it was an ‘honour’ to be heading to Rotterdam in May with his song My Last Breath, which was recorded on the banks of a Scottish loch.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” he said.

“I’m also so proud to be taking ‘My Last Breath’ as the song.

“I wrote it with some of my best friends, who are also amazingly talented songwriters in their own right. I knew it was ‘the one’ after first recording it, I just loved the simplicity and universal message of the song.”

Newman has previously worked with Rudimental, as well as artists including Ed Sheeran and Calvin Harris.

He is the older brother of John Newman, who has sold over 1.3 million records in the UK alone with hits like Love Me Again.

John joked on social media that it was a “family affair”, adding: “This is gunna be like an oasis head to head race to the top battle bro @JamesNewmanUk haha #eurovision.”

Here it is!! Congratulations to @JamesNewmanUk Many apologies for forgetting to pack my shirt for the video shoot! https://t.co/z88r1w93GS

— graham norton (@grahnort) February 27, 2020

My Last Breath was recorded in Scotland while James was staying by a loch with fellow songwriters, Ed Drewett, Iain James and Adam Argyle.

James is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT award-winning and Grammy-nominated songwriter, having won a BRIT for British Single of the Year for Waiting All Night, performed by Rudimental and Ella Eyre.

He also co-wrote another UK Number 1, penning Blame for Calvin Harris and his younger brother. The song topped the charts in several countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Mexico.

James has been Grammy-nominated twice, co-writing Coping from Toni Braxton’s album Sex & Cigarettes, and Let ‘Em Talk from Kesha’s album Rainbow.

He has also been a featured vocalist on many successful songs – his biggest hit came in 2018 when he collaborated with acclaimed Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren.

Their song Therapy was a big hit in Europe and reached number 4 on the Dutch Top 40 chart.

The Eurovision Song Contest final takes place in Rotterdam on Saturday May 16.

It’s the first to take place since the UK left the EU.