Other big British names are lending their support to the search, in a sign that the UK no longer wants to be seen as a Eurovision joke.

They include Sir Elton John, who said: “British pop music has led the world for seven decades now. In a changing world, we must find new ways for it to continue to thrive.

“There aren’t many televised events that are as big and genuinely global as Eurovision, so it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to remind the world yet again of the depth and diversity of our talent. I can’t wait to see what gems our friends at Tap Music will unearth.”

Record labels will be encouraged to put forward their acts for next May’s contest, which takes place in Turin, Italy.

Kate Phillips, the controller of entertainment commissioning at the BBC, said: “In the UK, our love for Eurovision is as big as ever and we have grand ambitions for the 2022 contest.”

The UK has not won the competition since 1997, when Katrina and the Waves triumphed with Love Shine A Light.