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Town prepares to cheer on Eurovision local hero

Lili Sheppard,in Ramsgateand
Craig Buchan,South East
EPA Sam Battle performing in a pink boiler suit. he is gesturing and stood next to a large keyboard with many buttons and dials on it. Large electronic equipment is visible in the background as stage decoration.EPA
Ramsgate's Sam Battle, aka Look Mum No Computer, is the UK's Eurovision entry

The home town of the electronic musician representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest is preparing to cheer him on.

Sam Battle, known as Look Mum No Computer, will perform at the final on Saturday in his bid to become the first British entry to win since 1997.

The artist and YouTuber is well known around Ramsgate, Kent for running This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete, his unique instruments made from Furbys and Game Boys, and now his Eurovision song Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Gemma Dempsey of Ramsgate Town Council said: "I couldn't be more delighted that he's representing the UK in the competition."

She told BBC Radio Kent work started on a street watch party "as soon as we heard" Battle had been chosen.

The event, with a large viewing screen, takes place on Harbour Parade from 18:00 BST on Saturday.

Lili Sheppard/BBC Gemma Dempsey and Jim Barber smiling for the camera. They are stood outdoors beside some pub windows.Lili Sheppard/BBC
Gemma Dempsey and Jim Barber are preparing to support Battle in Ramsgate

Jim Barber, landlord of The Queens Head pub on the road, said there was going to be "a real party vibe down on the seafront".

"We're really trying to get behind it as much as we can and make it as much of a party as possible," he told BBC Radio Kent.

Andy Sahan, owner of the nearby Royal Oak, said he wished Battle "all the best" and was "sure he's going to do really well".

Dempsey said: "Go for it Sam, we know you can do it and we're all going to be wearing boiler suits to support you."

The singer Julie Forsyth, who lives in Ramsgate, has also wished the performer luck and thrown her support behind Eins, Zwei, Drei.

"[Eurovision's] changed a lot politically but I think you've just got to get out there and do your best," the Guys 'n Dolls performer told BBC Radio Kent.

Battle had "put so much into it and he's great to watch, and he's a good entertainer", she said.

Lili Sheppard Julie Forsyth in a cap and jacket, smiling for the camera. Several yachts in Ramsgate Harbour are seen in the background.Lili Sheppard
Julie Forsyth wrote the UK's Eurovision entry in 1988

Forsyth, the daughter of Bruce Forsyth, wrote the UK's 1988 Eurovision entry Go and performed backing vocals for the competition performance.

The song, performed by Scott Fitzgerald, narrowly finished second behind Céline Dion's entry for Switzerland.

Forsyth told the BBC "it was really like watching a horse race and at the last minute you've fell at the last hurdle".

She advised Battle to "get out there and not think about it too much", and to "just enjoy it".

Musician uses Game Boy to play church organ

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