BBC “not taking part” in Junior Eurovision 2024, according to journalist

Freelance journalist Adrian Bradley wrote on X/Twitter that the United Kingdom would not take part in Junior Eurovision 2024.

The post was published today on X, explaining that the BBC informed him of their decision to sit out of the Junior Contest. Adrian Bradley is a freelance journalist who works, among other outlets, with Radio Times and BBC News, and who has previously been accredited to the Eurovision press center.

Ah some sad@bbceurovision
news. After a couple of sucessful years, the BBC has told me they won't be taking part in this years Junior competition in Madrid. They came 5th in Yerevan and 4th in Nice, but possible viewing figures didn't quite reach the heights they'd hoped for.

— Adrian Bradley (@adebradley) June 21, 2024

According to Adrian Bradley, the BBC issued the following statement “We sometimes have to make difficult decisions and the BBC will not participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest this year. We would like to thank the artists and creative teams who represented the UK for the last two years.“

The UK at Junior Eurovision

The United Kingdom took part in the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest, back in 2003, and kept participating for the following two years, after which ITV (and not the BBC) withdrew from the contest. They only came back in 2022, with the BBC. During their hiatus, however, Great Britain was not completely absent, with the participation of Wales in 2018 and 2019.

The UK would now withdraw after two very good results in two consecutive years, with Freya Skye’s “Lose My Head” finishing 5th in 2022 in Yerevan, and Stand Uniqu3’s “Back To Life” in 4th place last year in Nice.

What do you think about this decision, should it be confirmed? Did you expect it? Do you think another broadcaster could take over, as ITV did twenty years ago? Tell us more in the comments below or on social media at @escxtra!