SINCE splitting up in 2005 Blue have tried every trick in the book to prolong their fleeting careers as teen pop idols.

They did a reunion tour, released four compilation albums in as many years and even flirted with reality TV; Blandford’s Duncan James entered Dancing on Ice in 2007, while fellow band member Antony Costa appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2005.

Then in a death or glory move, the group announced they were representing the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in May.

The foursome will perform I Can, a self-written pop song that previewed on the Graham Norton Show last night – and they are optimistic their entry will put to an end our dismal performance in the contest.

“I’m not getting nil points,” affirms singer, Simon Webbe. “We’re hoping politics won’t get in the way.”

Some would say they are naïve thinking it won’t.

Politics has played a large part in previous competitions; after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 the UK received nil points in the contest, which was partly attributed to other nation’s opposition to the war.

However, the confident pop stars could be helped out by what organisers say is a more democratic voting system, which has been introduced this year.

Scores will be calculated with 50 per cent of the viewers’ votes and 50 per cent of votes from a national jury of music professionals.

The boys hope Eurovision success would reopen the door to the UK’s pop scene, which slowly closed on them after their last studio album, Guilty, was released in 2003.

“We thought it was a great opportunity for us to make a comeback especially as it’s our tenth year anniversary,” says singer, Duncan James who attended Milldown School in Blandford and Corfe Hills School in Corfe Mullen.

“We were a really big and established band and this is the biggest television programme in Europe going out to an audience of 125 million people.”

Blue will compete against pop duo Jedward who are Ireland’s entry. “I like Jedward, they're funny,” says, singer Antony Costa.

“If we come up against them, great, if they beat us, fine, if they don’t and we beat them, brilliant.

“As long as we can go there and give 110 per cent, I’ll be happy with that.”

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 14.

Blue History

• The band was formed in 2001 by Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa.

• They released three albums during their time together (All Rise, One Love and Guilty), which all reached number one in the UK album charts.

• In 2005 they split up with all four members going on to pursue solo careers with varying degrees of success.

• After a four year hiatus Blue reformed in 2009 and have announced that they will represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest this year.