LONDON - A former dustman will represent Britain at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade after beating ex-EastEnders actress Michelle Gayle in a public vote.
Andy Abraham, 43, triumphed with his funky song Even If, beating five other acts in a show hosted by Terry Wogan onBBC1 on Saturday night.
"I'm freaked out. What can I say - the public have voted me in and I'm over the moon," Abraham said after the result was announced. "I will try my best to make them proud out in Serbia. I really hope people in Europe will give the song a chance."
Abraham has already had chart success with his debut album The Impossible Dream, which went platinum after selling nearly 180,000 copies in its first week.
He was the runner-up on the 2005 series of The X Factor, the ITV talent search show featuring Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue as judges.
Despite strong public support for Even If, bookmakers say he has little chance of success in Serbia on May 24.
William Hill have made him a 25-1 outsider and compared him to the Irish entry - a children's puppet called Dustin the Turkey.
"Sadly it looks like we've got a bigger turkey than Ireland," said spokesman Rupert Adams. "In the future the UK will need to pick a novelty act to stand a chance."
