As a member of the "Big Four", the United Kingdom automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Since 1999, the year in which the rule was abandoned that songs must be performed in one of the official languages of the country participating, the UK has had less success, having yet to finish within the top ten.

[2] The BBC has traditionally organised a national final featuring a competition among several artists and songs to choose its entry for Eurovision.

[4] All composers and lyricists were required to be British citizens or residents in the United Kingdom for three years prior to the Eurovision Song Contest 2002.

[5][6] More than 550 received submissions were reviewed by various panels of music publishers, songwriters and record label professionals, following which a 20-song shortlist was compiled by BASCA and presented to the BBC which ultimately selected eight semi-finalists to compete in the national final in December 2001.

[7][8] The eight competing songs were premiered during The Ken Bruce Show and Wake Up to Wogan on BBC Radio 2 between 28 and 31 January 2002.

[12][13] On 6 February 2002, the BBC announced that one of the finalists, "Never in a Million Years" performed by Zee, had been disqualified as the song was published on a compilation album in Hungary in June 2001.

[16] Four acts competed in the televised final on 3 March 2002 which was held at the BBC Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire and hosted by Claire Sweeney and Christopher Price.

[21] Christopher Price was initially announced as the commentator on BBC Choice (as part of the programme Liquid Eurovision Party), however he was replaced by Eclair following his death a month before the contest.