Former Darkness singer Justin Hawkins is leading the race to be Britain's next entry to the Eurovision song contest.

The glam-rocker is the bookies' top tip to win tonight's public poll with They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To, his duet with Beverlei Brown.

Britain's great voting public will select the winner in a telephone vote, to be screened on BBC1 later this evening. But Hawkins, who has recently come out of rehab, faces substantial opposition in his path to European glory.

Whereas previously the choice was between a bunch of unknown hopefuls, this year previously established acts are vying for the public vote.

Former East 17 rapper Brian Harvey is in the running, as is Liz McClarnon of Atomic Kitten fame. Scooch had a handful of hits in the late 90s and early noughties while Big Brovaz, whose debut album reached number three in the UK album charts, are also competing.

That leaves Cyndi making up the numbers, the only artist who has not previously had a taste of the limelight. She likes Whitney Houston.

Taken from M&C