It has been 29 years since the United Kingdom last triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest, with Katrina and the Waves securing victory in 1997. However, the UK's 2026 entry, LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, aims to break that dry spell. The 70th edition of the contest is set to take place in Vienna, Austria, following their win last year, with 35 countries participating.
Who Is LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER?
The artist behind the moniker is Sam Battle, a 31-year-old solo musician, songwriter, and YouTuber from Lincolnshire. He first emerged on the music scene in 2014 as the frontman of indie rock band ZIBRA, which performed at Glastonbury in 2015 for BBC Introducing. In 2016, he launched his YouTube career, amassing over 91 million views and 1.4 million subscribers across social media platforms. Battle gained recognition for building his own synthesisers, circuit-bent instruments, and performing quirky, experimental tracks.
Reflecting on his unconventional path, Battle told TNT Magazine: 'I'm a musician, and about two and a half years ago, I decided to try a different venture. I started putting up videos with machines that I built while I was in a band for tour, and I didn't really expect anybody to care, because it was just weird stuff I built in my house. That flourished into more interesting machines because people liked them, so I kept pushing, building things, and writing music. I just couldn't help myself but build silly machines.'
Musical Journey and Achievements
Battle released his first single, 'Groundhog Day', in 2019, followed by tours in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. In May 2022, he formed the musical supergroup Uncompressed with Cuckoo and Hainbach, performing together for the first time at Barcelona's Sónar festival in June 2019. He has co-produced compositions for screen, including 'Satellite M Moment' for the film adaptation of 'A Street Cat Named Bob' and 'Glitter and Gold' for the Netflix series 'Safe'. His work blends 'music, technology, and absurdity'. Beyond music, he has delivered a TEDx talk, released a video game, and earned a Guinness World Record for building the world's largest drone synthesiser.
Eurovision 2026 Entry
In February 2026, it was announced that Battle would represent the UK at Eurovision. He commented: 'I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions every year. Getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously. I've been working a long time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch. I will bring every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!'
Battle will perform 'Eins, Zwei, Drei' during the second semi-final. The song, co-written and produced with Lasse Midtsian Nymann, Julie 'Kill J' Aagaard, and Thomas Stengaard, is about 'escaping the soul-crushing boredom of the nine-to-five, into a world of dreams and endless possibilities'. The chorus is partially sung in German, making it the first UK entry not exclusively in English in 68 years. Battle noted: 'I thought this would not be taken seriously because the BBC love conventional stuff, and this is not conventional. So they're taking a bit of a risk – but who knows?'
BBC and Public Reaction
Eurovision presenter Graham Norton expressed enthusiasm: 'I think LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER is a really great choice for the UK. If he connects with the crowd, there will be no stopping him.' Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, added: 'We are thrilled to have Look Mum No Computer representing the UK. His bold vision, unique sound, and electric performance style make him unforgettable. He embodies everything the UK wants to celebrate on the Eurovision stage – creativity, ambition, and distinctly British wit. I am sure he will make us proud in May.'
Context and Controversy
The UK has participated in Eurovision 67 times, first entering in 1957 and every year since 1959. The country holds a record 16 second-place finishes, the most recent in 2022 with Sam Ryder's 'Spaceman'. Last year, the UK was represented by Remember Monday, who finished 19th out of 26 countries with 'What The Hell Just Happened?'.
However, the 2026 contest is not without controversy. In January, an unnamed act was reportedly dropped after bosses discovered unacceptable online comments. A source told The Sun: 'The BBC can't take any chances with Eurovision being such a pressure cooker this year. Routine checks brought up past behaviour that just didn't line up. It was brutal, but they were told they could no longer represent the UK.'
Furthermore, the contest faces its most serious crisis in history, with several countries considering boycotting over Israel's participation amid the Gaza war. Belgium's broadcaster initially said it would take a position, while Iceland withdrew. The European Broadcasting Union voted to adopt tougher voting rules in response to allegations of vote manipulation but did not exclude any broadcaster. Eurovision expert Dean Vuletic stated: 'Next year, we're going to see the biggest political boycott of Eurovision ever.'
