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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ today announced the six acts hoping to take part in music's biggest annual extravaganza as they compete to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Your Country Needs You! on Friday 12 March 2010 at 8.30pm on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One.

Performing live in the studio, the Eurovision hopefuls will be out to impress Pete Waterman – producing this year's entry with long-time collaborator Mike Stock – plus a specially-selected panel consisting of Pete, with last year's UK entrant Jade Ewen and performance-judge supremo Bruno Tonioli.

They will hear four solo singers, one all-girl trio and a five-piece group – all vying for the opportunity to sing for the UK in Oslo this May.

Pete Waterman says: "So far we've got the song and we've got six acts – now all we're waiting for is the public to get behind the search for the UK entry and then we can really get to work.

"But we're in it together and myself and Mike Stock are proud to be involved."

After live performances from the six acts, and feedback from the panel, Pete will choose three acts to debut the Eurovision song.

This time it's the viewers that they have to impress, as the winner will be decided by a public vote.

Graham Norton, the Your Country Needs You! host and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One's Eurovision commentator, says: "If any man can second guess European musical tastes surely that man is Pete Waterman.

"I can't wait to get to Oslo and see the competition. Fingers crossed we can build on last year's success.

"Here's to all the usual fun, glamour, and madness of Eurovision, this year with the added extra of a faint whiff of pickled herring."

Last year, Jade Ewen helped to restore the UK's national pride when she performed Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren's It's My Time in Moscow – coming a respectable fifth in the proceedings.

As well as offering her Eurovision experience as part of the Your Country Needs You! panel, she also joins her fellow Sugababes to perform their latest single in the studio.

Finally, Scandinavian superstar Alexander Rybak sings Fairytale – the song that brought Norway Eurovision glory at last year's competition.

More details on the six acts plus all the latest blogs, videos and insider gossip on Your Country Needs You! can be found on bbc.co.uk/eurovision.

PA/JD