Engelbert Humperdinck to represent UK at Eurovision

Engelbert Humperdinck will represent the UK at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

Engelbert will perform a new song he has been working on from Sacha Skarbek (James Blunt) and Martin Terefe (Train) to be recorded shortly.

Engelbert has been in the studio in London working on his next album to be produced by Terefe and featuring songs by Dan Wilson (Adele/Dixie Chicks).

In a statement he said, "I am so thrilled to have been asked by the BBC to represent the UK at Eurovision 2012!..without hesitation I happily accepted.

"I will proudly represent my country in song!

"This is a competition steeped in tradition and is one of the few remaining that is for the country as opposed to a talent search like Idol, X Factor or The Voice (which I am also a big fan of all 3 shows).

"Plus it gives me the opportunity to represent the country in something I'm relatively good at….Otherwise it would have to be at Darts!".

The last time the UK won Eurovision was in 1997 when Katrina and the Waves won for 'Love Shine A Light'.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan on May 26, 2012.