Skip to content

Cardboard Olly Alexander tours his home town

BBC A man at Forest Deli behind the counter with his arm around a cardboard cutout of Olly AlexanderBBC
Olly Alexander made himself at home at Forest Deli in Coleford

Residents of Olly Alexander's hometown have cheered him on on ahead of his Eurovision Song Contest performance this weekend.

The popstar grew up in Coleford, where a cardboard cutout version of himself toured the town last week.

He had a residence at Forest Deli and also visited the clock tower before popping down to Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester.

Alexander told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that Coleford is home to "really lovely, beautiful people."

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's David Smith spoke to Olly and his Coleford fans.

The former Years & Years frontman and It's A Sin actor will perform his single Dizzy in Malmö in front of a crowd of millions worldwide at the Eurovision final on Saturday night.

He is already in the Swedish city, and will make history on Tuesday night when he becomes the first UK act to perform in the semi-finals.

The UK act is one of five that automatically qualifies for the final, so there is no need to perform in the semi-final, but this has changed for the 2024 Song Contest.

Woman in orange standing next to a cutout of Olly Alexander
'Good luck Olly in the Eurovision!' said one fan

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Alexander said: "My mum's actually been telling me how she went and got her nails done and she got little 'Dizzy' symbols on her nails.

"She was saying they've all gone Dizzy mad," he added.

Alexander was born in Harrogate, but lived in Coleford when he was growing up.

He attended St John's Primary School in the town and later went to Monmouth Comprehensive School, on the other side of the Welsh border.

His mum, Vicki Thornton, still lives in Coleford, and is one of the founders of Coleford Music Festival, which takes place in the town every summer.

Two traffic wardens standing next to a cardboard cutout of Olly Alexander
Two traffic wardens in Coleford wished Olly well

In the run-up to Eurovision, Alexander was a guest presenter on Blue Peter, and was given a gold Blue Peter badge.

During the episode, which aired on 3 May, he baked Eurovision cookies, showcased his hula hooping skills and attempted to break his first ever Guinness World Record.

He also tried the world record for the most objects caught whilst spinning on a chair in 60 seconds.

On Saturday, he will read the CBeebies bedtime story to children across the nation.

Olly Alexander in front of Kingsholm stadium
Olly's cutout also visited Gloucester Rugby's home at Kingsholm

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story