75-Year-Old Crooner is UK Eurovision Act for 2012

British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck is to represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The 75-year-old, dubbed the “King of Romance”, is best known for his 1967 hit Release Me, which kept The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever off the number one spot, the BBC reports.

The song Humperdinck will perform has yet to be announced but the BBC said it would be recorded in London, Los Angeles and Nashville.

It will be written by Grammy award-winning producer Martin Terefe and Ivor Novello winner Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt hit You’re Beautiful.

Humperdinck — whose real name is Arnold Dorsey — has sold more than 150 million records worldwide during his 45 year career.

The singer has received four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year and is one of only a handful of artists with a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Las Vegas Walk of Fame.

“It’s an absolute honour to be representing my country for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest,” the singer said.

“When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision. I’m excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me!”

Humperdinck is the oldest ever Eurovision contestant and if he wins, will be the UK’s first victor since Katrina and the Waves 15 years ago.

This year’s competition will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 26.