Eurovision 2016: Who are Joe and Jake? All you need to know about the UK's entry

They're performing their song 'You’re Not Alone' at the competition

This year, the UK’s Eurovision entry apparently stands a chance of winning. Well, not a massive chance - 25/1 according to the bookies - but still better than last year’s electro swing duo, Electro Velvet. So, who are Joe and Jake, and how come they’re singing for us this year?

Both singers came to fame through The Voice, competing in 2015. In his initial ‘blind audition’, Joe Woolford - a self-confessed rap fan who was first influenced by 2Pac - auditioned with a cover of Ellie Goulding’s “Lights”.

Every judge - bar Will.i.am - turned in their chair, with the young singer choosing to go with Rita Ora.

Joe managed to make it all the way to the second week of the competition before being knocked out.

Meanwhile, Jake Shakeshaft covered Ed Sheeran's “Thinking Out Loud” on the BBC’s singing competition.

He eventually chose to go with Will.i.am, deciding against both Ora and Tom Jones, eventually being knocked out in the first knockout round.

Before being a singer, the singer - from Stoke-on-Trent - studied Music Technology at Newcastle, but left it all behind to pursue his promising music career.

Promising their careers really are, as not only are they singing for the UK in Eurovision, they’ve already signed a record deal with Sony Music UK, a label One Direction fell under.

Why mention the once world-dominating boyband? Comparisons between Harry Styles’ motley crew and the duo are already being made, with their song “You’re Not Alone” hitting many of the same beats as Direction’s songs.

Eurovision Song Reviews said of the song: “At times Joe and Jake sound like a mixture of One Direction and Coldplay with a splash of The Wanted stirred in for good measure.”

The site also pointed out how the song was co-written by Siva Kaneswaran of The Wanted.

Interested in every else Eurovision? Check out our coverage here, including our review of all this year’s contestants.