UK's Eurovision Entrant Sam Battle Describes BBC Stress Test

Battle told BBC News he views the competition with limited concern for the final score. "It could go well or completely wrong - I'm just here for the ride," he said. " Bookmakers have listed him as a 150-1 contender for victory. Battle, 37, had already built a following for his music created with home-built synthesisers and for a YouTube channel with 700,000 subscribers that features modifications to vintage cars and church organs.

He also runs a museum in Ramsgate, Kent, focused on restored audio equipment. Four weeks ago he became a father for the first time.

Battle said his participation began as a casual suggestion at a pub with a friend. His manager contacted the BBC, which then requested a song. After submitting a track, he was invited to a writing camp on the condition that he could bring his large custom synthesiser and drum machine named Kosmo, which requires six flight cases.

The synthesiser inspired the entry, a 1980s-style pop song called Eins, Zwei, Drei. Battle recalled saying the German phrase while moving a sofa to accommodate his equipment, prompting the group to adopt it as the title. The song describes leaving an office job for a short trip to Germany.

He completed the track in 12 hours and did not expect it to be chosen. The BBC contacted him the next morning to express strong interest. Battle attended one final audition to demonstrate he could function under the demands of the contest. He was then selected as the UK representative.

News met Battle during rehearsal week at Vienna's Museum of Science and Technology, which houses early mechanical instruments and historical synthesisers. " The museum curator told reporters that Battle appeared to know more about the collection than some staff members.

Battle performed a karaoke version of Abba's "Waterloo" and Tommy Cash's 2025 entry "Espresso Macchiato" while at the museum. His Eurovision staging, choreographed by Fredrik "Benke" Rydman, begins with Battle trapped in an office environment before breaking free as the set transforms into an electronic fairground.

He constructed much of the set, including oversized synthesiser panels. A plan to incorporate a car was abandoned because the stage's LED floor has a 500-kilogram weight limit for props. Battle said he is not a skilled dancer but welcomed the challenge.

He acknowledged the UK's recent poor performance at Eurovision, noting no top-10 finish in more than 15 years except for Sam Ryder's second place in 2022. The UK received zero points from the public vote in each of the past two years.

Battle reported that the BBC gave him a stress test to determine whether he could cope under pressure. "It's nothing, really, just making sure that you don't get too nervous and things like that," he said. He added that his main current concern is the possibility of falling over during the performance.

After watching the semi-finals, Battle said he believes the UK entry offers something distinct. He described the song as "Marmite – you either love it or hate it" but suggested there may be space for it in the contest. The grand final takes place on Saturday.