Matthew James

Matthew James has previously had a brush with fame as part of nineties boyband Bad Boys Inc, and their hit single More To This World. To audition for the 90s hitmakers he remembers "singing Careless Whisper down the phone… and the next day I was in a spinning teacup in Alton Towers having my photo taken!"

Matthew has continued singing for the last 15 years and more recently, by Royal Appointment with his band Madhen who played at Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding.

On his song A Better Man, Matthew says "it’s beautifully crafted. It speaks to me. It’s about love, finding the right person, and I can see myself in the song. I got goosebumps the minute I heard it."

His favourite lyric is ‘you inspire me, give me a reason to believe’ - I think people around you can make you feel uplifted and I have a lot of great friends who accept me for who I am and who make me the best person I could be."

A Better Man was recorded in Stockholm, and after Matthew spent time in this year's host city he appreciates how Sweden approach the contest: "I love how the whole country embraces Eurovision and I think its right that they take it seriously."

Matthew cites David Bowie, Queen, George Michael and Madonna as his biggest influences alongside his Dad who "sounds like Dean Martin when he sings."