Ex Harrogate student to launch Isolation Song Contest with top stars online

The cancellation of this year's Eurovision Song Contest left a continentally huge cultural gap, but Tom Taylor has big plans to fill that gap with the very first Isolation Song Contest starring top comedians and more.

Instead, the Isolation Song Contest, to raise money for three national charities - The Trussell Trust and Crisis and Refuge – is being staged online at 8pm tomorrow, Saturday, May 2.

Tom, who is also promoter and resident compère at the Sitting Room Comedy nights in Harrogate and York, has asked 14 friends from the world of entertainment, including comedy, music and drag, to help him recreate the magic of the Eurovision Song Contest from the safety of their own homes.

Those involved include Mel Giedroyc, Divina de Campo, Nick Helm, Tim Vine, Måns Zelmerlöw, Josie Long and Neil Hannon.

And to help promote the event Tom, a former Harrogate Advertiser columnist, has roped in Graham Norton, Clare Balding, and BBC Radio DJs Scott Mills and Sara Cox for a hilarious trailer video online now.

After being randomly assigned a country, each act has been given one week to compose an original Eurovision-style entry and music video for that nation before the Isolation Song Contest grand final this Saturday.

Tom, who still lives in Harrogate, said: “I only came up the idea for The Isolation Song Contest a month ago and have been working around the clock to get it off the ground and to where it is now.

“There is still plenty to do, including planning for a results show and how the public can vote for their favourite act.

“On the night I’ll be launching the contest and then handing over to ‘special guests’ who will introduce each act ahead of their isolation performance. All the songs are original compositions, and I must say on the whole they are very good.”

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Tom added: “Everyone involved in the project has given their time and skills for free to help raise as much money as possible for The Trussell Trust, Crisis and Refuge. These are three charities that are doing amazing work supporting vulnerable people through these difficult times. I’ve set a target of £5,000, but hope to do significantly better.”

“Isolation Song Contest”

Saturday, May 2, 8pm

The confirmed acts and their countries:

Divina de Campo – Australia

Flo and Joan – Iceland

Glamrou – Russia

Joe Stilgoe – Belgium

Josie Long and Jonny Donahoe - North Macedonia

Kevin Eldon – France

Lucy Porter and Justin Edwards - San Marino

Måns Zelmerlöw - United Kingdom

Mel Giedroyc – Italy

Neil Hannon – Spain

Nick Helm – Finland

Pippa Evans – Germany

Rob Deering – Sweden

Tim Vine - Romania

In 2013 Tom reached the final of the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny? competition, the following year he was a finalist in the Hobgoblin Comedy Award and in 2015 he took home the award for Comedian of the Year at the inaugural Great Yorkshire Fringe.

Most recently he picked up the Audience Favourite Award at the Musical Comedy Awards 2017 and reached the final of English Comedian of the Year 2018.

In addition to his stand-up talents, Tom is an accomplished actor and writer having penned and performed two one-man murder mysteries, A Charlie Montague Mystery: The Game’s a Foot, Try the Fish and The Man with the Twisted Hip.

Those wishing to donate can do by heading to www.isolationsongcontest.com where they will also find a link to watch the show.

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