Bolton actor Maxine Peake has put her name to a letter asking the UK Eurovision entrant to boycott the competition in light of the conflict in the Middle East.

The UK entrant Olly Alexander last month rejected calls for him to boycott the music competition amid the conflict in the Gaza strip, which has seen more than 33,000 Palestinians killed since October.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Queers for Palestine circulated a letter  lat last month signed by actors Indya Moore, Brigette Lundy-Paine and Maxine calling for Alexander to stop participating.

The Bolton News: Maxine Peake

In March, Alexander along with Irish hopeful Bambie Thug and Danish entrant Saba as well as other Eurovision artists released a joint statement, backing “an immediate and lasting ceasefire” but refusing to boycott the event.

That same month, Israel unveiled its new entry as Hurricane, performed by singer Eden Golan.

Her original track, October Rain, had caused controversy as the lyrics were thought to reference the Hamas attacks of October 7 before being changed following the backlash.

Last year, Sweden won the contest with the song Tattoo by Swedish singer Loreen, with Eurovision 2024 due to take place in Malmo in May.