Eurovision star Michael Rice talks Kylie Minogue, Rylan and 'the great people of Hartlepool' a year on from singing for the UK

This Saturday night marks a year since the former McDonald’s worker was watched by an estimated 250 million television viewers worldwide while taking part in the prestigious annual event in Tel Aviv.

While he may have finished last with Bigger Than Us, Michael says “Eurovision has opened so many doors for me” with a professional contract already signed and a first album likely to be released before the end of the year.

Speaking from his family home in Hartlepool, where he is staying during the ongoing pandemic, he said: “It has been absolutely crazy. I've been signed by a company in Sweden, have spent a lot of time there, also in Holland, in Switzerland and I’ve got an album nearly ready.”

Michael, who found fame after winning BBC’s All Together Now contest in 2018, was recording in Malmo, in Sweden, with Woodhouse Productions when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK was going into lockdown.

He recalled: “My mum was straight on the phone telling me to get home as quickly as possible.

“So we finished the song we were recording and I was able to get a flight back to Manchester the following day to come home.

“With all the flying about since Eurovision, it is nice to spend some time with the brothers and sisters and family here in Hartlepool.”

The family includes mum Stephanie Langley, 39, stepdad Steven Langley, 49, and siblings Cameron Rice, 20, Ellie Stephenson, 15, and Ethan Langley, 11.

Thanking everyone for their support, he said the “great people of Hartlepool have been fantastic” to him, adding: “If anything, I am more likely to get stopped in London than I am here.

“It is strange when it happens because you see people having a glance out of the corner of their eye and then another one as they think they recognise you.

“The people are so polite and complimentary towards me.”

Lockdown has not prevented him from working, however, while he is home.

New single Think Of Me was released in April with an EP and album likely to follow before the end of the year.

He is also busy writing songs in his bedroom and holds regular discussions with song writers and producers overseas via Skype.

Michael, 22, a former pupil at the town’s St Aidan's Primary School and Dyke House School, said: “Everything is on schedule at the moment but it depends how long the current situation lasts.

“We’ve got plans to come back to Hartlepool to film a video for the main song on the EP and getting people here involved.”

As for the highlight of the last year, Michael said: “It has to be stepping out on stage in front of tens of thousands of people and knowing there was about 250 million watching on television.

“There was nothing to prepare you for that moment and you think about all the hard work you have put in over the months to get here.

“I was even on a high at the end as I was kind of expecting the result because we do not really ever seem to do well.”

Other highlights included appearing on Eurovision host Graham Norton’s prime time BBC show with singer Kylie Minogue and Hollywood star Keanu Reeves.

He said: “I had a changing room near them and they were just so down to earth when I was talking to them.”

Michael also got to know United Kingdom Eurovision spokesperson Rylan Clark-Neal in the build up to the 2019 final, recalling: “He would spot if you were having a bad day and cheer you up.”

Not that Michael would be allowed to act like a star even if he wanted to, as he adds: “My mam would soon cut me down to size if I became cocky.”

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