Boyband Blue will be heading to Düsseldorf in Germany on May 14 to officially represent the UK in the Eurovision song contest.

According to the BBC Blue will be performing a song written by the band entitled “I Can” at the contest which is watched by 125 million viewers worldwide.

2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the band who will be filming a documentary in the run up to the competition charting their journey across Europe to promote the song to be aired on the BBC in April.

This is the first time that an already established act has taken up the challenge of representing the UK at the Eurovision song contest, with the last to do so being Katrina and the Waves in 1997 which saw the band taking the title with “Love Shine A Light”.

Katie Taylor, the BBC Head of Entertainment and Events said: “We are enormously pleased to have found an act that not only meets but exceeds all the criteria for a great entry. Blue are the perfect choice and we are so proud to have them representing us at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.”

Eurovision Executive Producer, Phil Parsons added: “I am thrilled that Blue will represent the UK this year. We have a highly credible act who have had a string of smash hits in this country and they've also been highly successful around Europe too.”

While the BBC have voiced their support the bands former manager has dubbed the move to Eurovision as being one of “reckless insanity”.

Daniel Glatman said: “They will have to win. Anything less and their reputation would be in tatters. It is the equivalent of Lewis Hamilton entering a go-kart race – he will be the strong favorite but there is also the possibility that he could lose. So why risk it?”

At the moment the bookies are not looking favorably on the odds of the boyband, originally formed in 2000, to win with William Hill listing Blue as 25/1 outsiders in the European competition that is renowned for awarding the UK nil points.

Duncan James from the band is however confident of the groups decision. He said: “We are celebrating 10 years together in 2011, so when the BBC approached us it seemed a great way to mark the occasion and also be part of something which is still a British institution.”