Pete Waterman

Legendary hit maker Pete Waterman will produce this year's UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The multi award-winning music maestro has been responsible for producing and writing over 200 hits throughout the last 25 years, and has worked with pop sensations from Kylie Minogue, Donna Summer, Geri Halliwell, Westlife and Bananarama to Steps, Rick Astley and Dead Or Alive.

The song will be performed at Eurovision 2010 which takes place in Oslo in May. Details for the selection process for the act that will perform the song will be announced at a later date.

Pete Waterman said: "Eurovision is one of those iconic competitions that has stood the test of time and keeps coming up with great acts, great tunes and great performances. Life's full of challenges and I'm relishing the opportunity to put my own stamp on this one."

One of the highest grossing producers of all time, Pete Waterman's music career spans over three decades - as songwriter, manager, producer, radio and television presenter and DJ. This is the first time Pete has been directly involved in the Eurovision Song Contest.

During the 1980s, Coventry-born Pete was also a member of the highly successful recording trio Stock Aitken Waterman. Their first number one hit was Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round". He holds numerous awards including several Ivor Novellos and in 2004 was honoured with an OBE for his services to music.

Executive Producer Phil Parsons said: "This year, with an extremely successful pop writer, the aim is to build on the UK's success while moving on in style and doing something different. Pete Waterman has an incredible track record of hits that are known all around Europe so we're thrilled that he has taken on Eurovision."

Last year, the UK signalled a change of direction in its approach to the Contest when Andrew Lloyd Webber and American songwriter Diane Warren collaborated to produce "It's My Time", performed by Jade Ewen (now a member of the Sugababes). The aim was to restore some much needed national pride in the competition after the UK had fared so poorly in recent years.

The strategy was successful as the UK came a very respectable fifth place with, by common consent, a vastly improved entry. There were also changes to the Song Contest itself with voting split in each country between the public and a panel of industry experts.

Eurovison 2010

The grand final of this year's contest is due to take place on Saturday 29th May in Oslo, Norway - following the runaway victory last year by Alexander Rybak performing the memorable ditty "Fairytale".

As we get closer to the night when the United Kingdom will select the artist to represent us in Oslo, this website will be updated and refreshed. We'll also keep you up to speed on the very latest news from all 38 other competing countries. So add http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision to your favourites right now!

You can also keep up with the very latest news and information about the UK's 2010 Eurovision Song Contest entry by following us on Twitter - @bbceurovision.