The film was written and is being directed by Bernard Rose, who directed the band’s Relax music video back in 1984. “Relax,” the band’s debut single, was famously banned by the BBC due to the sexual nature of the lyrics, causing Frankie Goes to Hollywood to gain notoriety and helping to keep the single in the No.1 spot of the UK Singles Chart for 5 weeks.

Following the band’s rise to fame in the 1980s, the biopic will largely be based on what was shared in lead singer Holly Johnson’s memoir, A Bone in My Flute.

Director and screenwriter Bernard Rose described the band as going from “unemployed Liverpudlians to kings of pop on the back of their epic banned record ‘Relax.'”

Rose continued, “It took them from the underground S&M and LGBTQ club scene into mainstream pop culture. I was very much a part of the hoopla, having directed the original ‘banned’ ‘Relax’ video and I want to bring that innocent and daring world of 1984 back to life for a new audience today.”

Callum Scott Howells is set to star as Holly Johnson, following his acclaimed performance in Russell T. Davies’s drama It’s a Sin, which delved into the 1980s and 90s AIDS epidemic.

Speaking on the BBC ban in 1984, Holly Johnson shared on the BBC Breakfast Show that fans said it made them seem “cool, edgy and rebellious,” effectively doing “them a favour.”

However, Johnson said, “But I wanted to sing our number one debut single on Top of the Pops, so that moment was denied us.”

Frankie Goes to Hollywood recently reunited for the first time in 36 years for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, held in their hometown of Liverpool.

Lead singer Holly Johnson commented on the experience, saying, “It was a real pleasure. I’d forgotten how much I really liked those people, and why I liked them. It was great. It couldn’t have been a better outcome. We seemed to have the same chemistry we had back in the day. They dynamic was the same, the energy was the same. It was great, it was a really perfect pop moment.“

Guitarist Brian Nash also shared his thoughts on the band’s reunion via Facebook, writing, “I am SO happy right now, and this weekend made me happier, and I will take that and hold it in my heart alongside my mates, fans, supporters and the people of this wonderful city.“

No further reunion plans have been shared as of yet, with Nash also writing “The future is unwritten but don’t hold your breath.“

The song, titled “Eurovusion (Open Up)” can be heard below:

New Zealand’s Eurovision bid is being backed by a Kiwi brewery, Yeastie Boys. The brewery owners have started a petition to let New Zealand join the Eurovision contest, alongside their Australian neighbours who are already included.

Nearly 50k views on our song to launch Aotearoa New Zealand’s bid for an invitation to @Eurovision. https://t.co/gL3JDv9Tox

Surely it’s time @bbceurovision gave it some airtime. If this was in the competition it would be a finalist, for sure.

— Yeastie Boys (@yeastieboys) May 8, 2023

Stu McKinlay, founder of Yeastie Boys, said, “We’ve become big Eurovision fans since arriving here in the UK but we really miss having our own country to cringe at while simultaneously supporting unwaveringly.”

Discussing Australia being included but not his native New Zealand, McKinlay continued, “I was the youngest of five kids and whenever my older siblings went to gigs, I was too young to join them. Australia being in Eurovision, when New Zealand hasn’t been invited, gives me the same vibes and I don’t like it.”

He added, “New Zealanders grow up with a sense of social justice being very important and Australia being invited to Eurovision without New Zealand is like inviting someone to your wedding but not giving them a plus one! Everyone loves New Zealand and finds us cute and non-threatening and that makes us a sure thing for doing well in the public vote. I mean who really likes Australia?”

On the petition page, McKinlay writes, “New Zealand is a country with a rich musical heritage that could bring a lot to the Eurovision party. Just ask Lorde, Crowded House or Dane Rumble.We have taken it upon ourselves to highlight this injustice and right this wrong by inviting fellow New Zealand pals Two Hearts to launch the first ever official unofficial Eurovision entry.”

Ultimately, New Zealand asks, “Why the hell are Australia in it? Can New Zealand come and play too?”

The UK is set to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest next week, honouring Ukraine who won last year. The 2023 finals will take place on 9th May and 11th May, with the grand finals on 13th May.

The event will be hosted in Liverpool, with Liverpool-based band Frankie Goes to Hollywood reuniting to open this year’s contest.

Eurovision co-host Alisha Dixon has called this year’s event “so much more than a competition” as the nations gather to honour Ukraine. Dixon said the event is “very important. We feel that sense of responsibility to do it with joy, love.”

Mae Muller is the official UK entrant for 2023, releasing “I Wrote a Song” in hopes of scoring as highly as last year’s UK contestant, Sam Ryder. Listen to Muller’s song here:

The Liverpool based group are set to play together for the first time in 36 years, having disbanded in 1987, and Eurovision 2023 seems to be the perfect place for just an occasion, given the fact that this year’s contest will be held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, thereby making this a hometown gig for the 80s synth-pop heavyweights.

The band’s lead vocalist Holly Johnson made the announcement in an instagram post, stating that “I’m happy to announce that Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite to perform at the opening concert of this very special event“.

The show that will kick things off in Liverpool is set, then, to be a spectacular one, featuring the classic Frankie Goes to Hollywood line-up, including vocalists Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford, and the so-called ‘Lads': Mark O’Toole (on bass), Brian Nash (on guitar), and Peter Gill (on drums).

The group was formed in Liverpool in 1980, rising to prominence and national fame in 1983 with the release of their first major hit, “Relax“. Deemed to be lyrically obscene with a theme of an overtly sexual nature, the track was banned by the BBC on all of its platforms, but this only created publicity for the band and soon the record reached number one of the UK Singles Chart.

Watch a live performance of “Relax” on Top of the Pops in 1984 below:

They followed this with their second single, “Two Tribes“, released in May 1984 to more success, with this song too reaching number one in the UK. The band then released their debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, later that year in October, easily reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart after advanced sales of the LP of more than a million copies.

Watch the music video for “Two Tribes” below:

Their third single, “The Power of Love“, was released in November 1984 to yet more success, reaching number one and marking a defining and record-breaking year for the group, being the first music act to reach number one of the UK Singles Chart with their first three singles since fellow Liverpool band Gary and the Pacemakers in the 60s.

Their second and final album, Liverpool, was released in 1986 and, despite reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart, was considered a commercial failure, owing naturally to their previous unprecedented success. The band subsequently disbanded the following year and haven’t performed together since.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood will perform in the opening concert of Eurovision 2023 on May 7th, see here for the songs that will follow throughout the semi-finals.