The internationally acclaimed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber yesterday shrugged off criticism that his involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest was seen as a low ebb in his career.
"I certainly don't regard this as a footnote in my career, but my day job will remain writing musicals," he said, when it was pointed out by The Times that his participation was being regarded as insignificant compared to his grand West End musicals.
He told a packed press conference that he was roped in by BBC to help select a Eurovision entry from the show Your Country Needs You, and he had seen this as a challenge. He composed Jade Ewen's song, It's My Time, together with Diane Warren.
"I thought to myself, we can't do worse than last year, so I took on the challenge. I thought this would be fun and everybody secretly watches it (the Eurovision)," he said.
Sir Andrew is best loved for his musicals The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Cats, and a journalist suggested people may vote because of his name rather than the song, but he wittily replied: "I think Andrew Lloyd Webber would be a bad song title so I don't think that people would vote for that!"
Despite admitting that winning would not be easy, the UK, through Sir Andrew and BBC, has this year taken the Eurovision very seriously after years of bashing it and sending "rubbish" entries.
Sir Andrew has gone as far as to secure Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's personal vote, and more than 100,000 copies of Jade's CD were distributed for free with the Russian version of OK Magazine.
Ever the diplomat, Sir Andrew would not be drawn into saying which was his favourite song from the 25 countries competing in tonight's final. Instead he said some personal friends had been involved in the Danish and Icelandic entries and he liked the songs, but would not single out one entry.
Sir Andrew praised his protégé Jade and said she was one of the "greatest talents" he has had the privilege of working with. He spoke about how he wanted to create a song that showcased Jade's voice, and expressed his hope that the song would "stay around a bit".
The Eurovision will be aired live on TVM tonight at 9 p.m.