The news travelled around the world when the BBC in March surprisingly announced veteran singer Engelbert Humperdinck as the UK`s Eurovision contestant.
According the official website of the Contest, Humperdinck, who turned 76 on Wednesday, isn`t quite sure why the BBC picked him, but he knew immediately what his answer would be.
"It was an overwhelmingly positive response. I felt like an athlete, wherever I went in the UK people would stop to shake my hand and wish me luck. I would like to thank the UK and European press for all their support and my fans in Europe; I hope they will remember my songs and give me their support", he says in an interview with the official website of Denmark`s national broadcaster DR.
"I have a lot of fans in the Eurovision countries, and it`s one of those things that has seemed perfect for me to be involved in for a long time", he says.
Engelbert Humperdinck is the oldest solo artist to compete in Eurovision history, but he doesn`t see his age as a disadvantage - quite the contrary.
"It`s very exciting to bring my music to the next generation of fans", says the veteran singer, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide,
Engelbert Humperdinck`s Eurovision song Love Will Set You Free has been partly recorded in Nashville, Tennesee - the home of US country music - and this has contributed to its sound.
The United Kingdom has finished last in three contests in the past decade, and Humperdinck is determined to change this disappointing statistic.
"The United Kingdom can definitely win Eurovision again. As I understand it, the voting system changed a few years ago, and now juries are more involved in the votes. Since then the UK has had better results. What`s to stop the UK being top 10 this year? We could win, I definitely think it`s possible".
Humperdinck has his first rehearsal on stage at the Baku Crystal Hall on the 19th of May, one week before the final.
"I am looking forward to getting to Baku, I can`t wait!"

AzerTAc