Listen to Justin Hawkins's interview with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Suffolk:
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The Lowestoft singer, who shot to fame with The Darkness, has recorded They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To with friend Beverli Brown. The duo will go head to head with five other acts from around the country for the right to represent the UK in this year's contest.
 | | Justin Hawkins |
Speaking to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Suffolk's Nick Pandolfi, Hawkins explained his decision to take part: "I've got nothing to lose, have I? I got dropped by Atlantic Records two days ago." After gaining huge success with their number one album Permission To Land, The Darkness split following the release of their second album, One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back. Hawkins left the band last year but the lure of Eurovision was strong enough to entice him back to the microphone: "One day last week I had a dream that we should do it. It's a huge TV event." | "Because of the occupation of Iraq, there's no way that anyone's going to vote for us." | | Justin Hawkins |
Making Your Mind Up is broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One on 17 March and will also include entries from former East 17 star Brian Harvey, Big Brovaz, ex Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon, Scooch and Cyndi. The winner of the public vote will represent the UK at the final, which is being held in Helsinki following Lordi's victory last year. "The preliminary programme goes out on my birthday so if anyone's feeling sympathetic then spend 25p on a vote - that would be great," Hawkins said. But even if Hawkins and Brown get to the 12 May final, the singer isn't confident of bringing the trophy home: "I read somewhere that even if the song was so stunning that it silenced all the birds in the trees, because of the occupation of Iraq, there's no way that anyone's going to vote for us (the UK). "But there's no way of predicting what's going to happen. You can't guess what a whole continent's thinking." Whatever the result of Eurovision, fans of Hawkins should be warned that his return to the spotlight is likely to be temporary: "You'll have to be patient - I'm not quite ready to come back to work properly yet. I'm quite enjoying the break to be honest, it's just nice to come out and do this because it's so different to everything else." Justin's former Darkness bandmates have recently decided to carry on as a trio under a different, as yet unannounced, name. | 
