Proud family cheering on UK's Eurovision hopeful
BBCThe family of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entrant have said they are so proud as he prepares for the grand final.
Sam Battle, who performs as Look Mum No Computer, will perform his electro-pop anthem Eins, Zwei, Drei at the spectacular's grand final in Vienna on Saturday.
The 37-year-old, who grew up in Yaxley, near Peterborough, will be cheered on by parents Jane and Alan and sister Jodie Bartle, the captain of Wrexham FC women.
"It's been a whirlwind, it's totally mad and I'm so proud of him," said Jane, who described her son as "a bit of a mad scientist".
The musician, who was born Sam Bartle before changing his name, has attracted attention for the unusual electronic instruments he creates.
This has included combining the sound of organ pipes with dozens of Furby toys, and old handheld Game Boy consoles.
Early on in his career, he performed across Cambridgeshire as a solo act and as part of bands Yellow Snow and Zibra, putting him on the radar of BBC Introducing.
"The first thing that he did when I gave him a trike was not to try and ride it, it was to turn it upside down, see if he could get the wheels off and how does it work," Jane told the BBC in Vienna.
"He's always been like that - his motto is 'don't be scared to try it'."
Jane said she had not had a chance to catch up with Battle since arriving in the Austrian capital as he was "so busy", but the long lead-up had had been a "very exciting time".
"He's thoroughly enjoying it," she added.
"He's confident and he says he'll just do his best and then it's Eurovision, isn't it?
"Anything can happen.
"What an experience. I mean, how many people can say this is what they've done?"
DJ McLaren/BBCMeanwhile Jodie said her brother had "always been destined for something massive", but admitted she was not expecting it to be Eurovision.
"I'm so happy that he's finally been given the opportunity for the world to see how unbelievably talented he is as an individual," she added.
"He's got a five-week-old baby at the moment that in the future is going to be able to say 'my dad's done Eurovision', which is absolutely epic."
"All I want for him to just enjoy it.
"We're proud of him no matter what [and] he should be proud of himself as well and the song I think is good enough to get points and just hopefully the world also agrees with that."
Previously, Battle told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Dotty McLeod it took about 12 hours to write the song he would perform.
"I am just going to try my hardest for the UK, for me and my mates and family," he added.
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