# Olly Alexander
**Olly Alexander** is the professional name of Oliver Alexander Thornton (born 1990), a British singer, songwriter, and actor who first found fame as the lead vocalist of the synth pop trio [Years & Years](https://www.edgepedia.org/years-and-years) and now records as a solo artist under his own name[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/). His acting career includes the lead role as Ritchie in [Russell T Davies](https://www.edgepedia.org/russell-t-davies)'s Channel 4 drama *It's a Sin* (2021), which earned him BAFTA and Critics Choice Award nominations[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2728054/awards/). In 2024 he represented the United Kingdom at the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://www.edgepedia.org/eurovision-song-contest) in Malmö with the song "Dizzy"[3](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2024/united-kingdom).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England; full name Oliver Alexander Thornton[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/) |
| Breakthrough | Lead vocalist of Years & Years from 2010; "King" reached UK Number 1 in March 2015 and debut album *Communion* topped the UK Albums Chart in July 2015[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/) |
| Acting recognition | Nominated for Leading Actor at the 2022 BAFTA Television Awards and for the 2022 Critics Choice Award for *It's a Sin*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2728054/awards/) |
| Eurovision 2024 | Performed "Dizzy" in the Malmö grand final, placing 18th of 25 with 46 points and no public-vote points[3](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2024/united-kingdom) • [4](https://time.com/6977225/eurovision-song-contest-2024-best-worst-moments/) |
| Solo career | Debut solo album *Polari* released 7 February 2025, produced with Danny L Harle[5](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/) |
| Streaming milestone | BRIT Billion Award in 2023 for 6.5 billion global streams; across three albums, 2 UK Number 1 albums and 10 UK Top 40 singles[6](https://interscope.com/pages/artist/olly-alexander) |
## Early life and acting career
Alexander was born in [Harrogate](https://www.edgepedia.org/harrogate), North Yorkshire, and grew up nurturing an interest in the arts, writing songs and performing in school plays before studying the performing arts at college[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044). When he was 13 his parents separated, and he was brought up by his mother, the events organizer Vicki Thornton[8](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/11/olly-alexander-on-success-sanity-and-its-a-sin-all-those-hot-guys-i-loved-it). At 18 he moved to London to pursue acting, arriving in 2008 with savings from acting jobs including an episode of ITV's *Lewis*[9](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/olly-alexander-interview-2021).
**Acting work.** His early roles spanned television, film, and theater: *Skins*, [Gaspar Noé](https://www.edgepedia.org/gaspar-noe)'s *Enter the Void*, *God Help the Girl* (written by [Belle and Sebastian](https://www.edgepedia.org/belle-and-sebastian)'s Stuart Murdoch), Laura Wade's *The Riot Club* (2014), and the 2014 horror series *Penny Dreadful*[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044) • [10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/07/olly-alexander-success-is-overwhelming-people-talk-to-you-differently) • [11](https://www.them.us/story/olly-alexander-its-a-sin-interview). He made his West End debut in 2013 in *Peter and Alice* alongside [Judi Dench](https://www.edgepedia.org/judi-dench) and Ben Whishaw, playing the part of Peter Pan[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044) • [12](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/olly-alexander).
## Years & Years
Alexander joined the fledgling synth pop act Years & Years in 2010 as lead vocalist, after bassist Mikey Goldsworthy heard him singing[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044) • [13](https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/olly-alexander-age-songs-boyfriend/). Originally a five-piece and later a trio with Goldsworthy and keyboardist Emre Türkmen, the group signed with the French label Kitsuné in 2013 and moved to Polydor the following year[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044). Their single "King" became their first UK Number 1 in March 2015, and its parent album *Communion* topped the [UK Albums Chart](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-albums-chart) that July[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/). Two further albums followed: *Palo Santo* (2018) and *Night Call*, the third album, which was the first with [Alexander](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander) performing solo at the helm[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044).
In early 2021 the other two members departed amicably, and Years & Years became Alexander's solo project[14](https://www.esc-plus.com/downloads/handbook-esc-2024.pdf). He later decided to release music under his own name, saying he felt that staying as Years & Years gave him "something to hide behind"[5](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/). A career-spanning compilation, *Odyssey*, appeared in mid-2024, credited to Olly Alexander & Years & Years[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044) • [15](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e9581624-d443-4dad-86f0-4f489283507c).
## It's a Sin
In January 2021 Alexander starred as Ritchie, the lead character in Russell T Davies's Channel 4 drama *It's a Sin*, which depicted the lives of young gay men in the 1980s and 1990s amid the onset of HIV and AIDS[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044). The show won Best New Drama at the National Television Awards, and Alexander was nominated for Leading Actor at the 2022 BAFTA Television Awards[6](https://interscope.com/pages/artist/olly-alexander). He was also a 2022 Critics Choice Award nominee for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2728054/awards/).
## Eurovision 2024
Alexander was announced as the UK's Eurovision Song Contest representative in December 2023, with the confirmation revealed on the final of *Strictly Come Dancing*[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/) • [16](https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68434209). He performed the upbeat dance track "Dizzy", his first single under his own name, at the grand final in Malmö on 11 May 2024[3](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2024/united-kingdom) • [17](https://www.spinmagazine.com/2025/02/former-years-years-frontman-olly-alexander-speaks-his-own-language-with-polari/).
**The result.** He placed 18th of 25 with 46 points, and the UK was the only country to receive no points from the public vote[3](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2024/united-kingdom) • [4](https://time.com/6977225/eurovision-song-contest-2024-best-worst-moments/). The build-up had been contested: an open letter signed by queer artists including [Maxine Peake](https://www.edgepedia.org/maxine-peake) and Sarah Schulman asked him to withdraw over Israel's participation in the contest, and Alexander joined other competitors in signing a joint response affirming a stance against "all forms of hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia" rather than boycotting[18](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/olly-alexander). Alexander later described the period candidly, saying there were moments at Eurovision that were hard to deal with[19](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/singer-olly-alexander-i-tried-to-shut-out-all-of-the-noise-but-there-were-moments-at-eurovision-that-were-so-tough-it-was-hard-to-deal-with/a25613079.html).
## Polari and the solo era
*Polari*, released on 7 February 2025, is Alexander's first album under his own name[5](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/) • [20](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Olly-Alexander-Releases-New-Album-Polari-20250207). Its title references Polari, a centuries-old unofficial British gay slang lexicon with origins traced to the 19th century[5](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/) • [17](https://www.spinmagazine.com/2025/02/former-years-years-frontman-olly-alexander-speaks-his-own-language-with-polari/). The album was created with producer Danny L Harle as the only collaborator, in a deliberately low-key setup, drawing on 1980s dance and synth-pop sounds; [Vince Clarke](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-clarke), described as one of the godfathers of the genre, contributed his signature touch on "Make Me a Man"[17](https://www.spinmagazine.com/2025/02/former-years-years-frontman-olly-alexander-speaks-his-own-language-with-polari/).
Alexander described the record as "this love letter to being gay and to just being alive", containing love songs written about his boyfriend[5](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/). Critics were divided: Alex Petridis in *The Guardian* called it a "Hi-NRG throwback for the Radio 2 crowd" that "plays it too safe" under its retro synths[21](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/olly-alexander-polari-review-hi-nrg-throwback-for-the-radio-2-crowd), while *The Independent* gave it two stars and judged that Alexander explored fascinating themes but struggled to find much of substance to say[22](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/olly-alexander-review-polari-inhaler-open-wide-b2693644.html). *Polari* did not match his earlier chart outings, two of which had gone to Number 1[23](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/apr/12/olly-alexander-palladium-london-review-part-night-creature-part-light-entertainer-polari). He supported the album with the Up Close and Polari tour across the UK and Europe[24](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/d0b20672f0a72fd297a973295d29818c0df88bdb.pdf).
## Activism and recognition
Alexander has been a vocal campaigner on LGBTQ+ issues and mental health, speaking openly about his own struggles; the *Observer* described him in 2016 as "a lifeline to troubled young people"[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/07/olly-alexander-success-is-overwhelming-people-talk-to-you-differently). At [Glastonbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/glastonbury) in 2016, on Pride weekend, he made a widely admired speech about battling prejudice[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/07/olly-alexander-success-is-overwhelming-people-talk-to-you-differently). In 2025, after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act is based on biological sex, he helped organize a letter of solidarity with the trans community signed by artists including [Charli XCX](https://www.edgepedia.org/charli-xcx), Self Esteem, and [Wolf Alice](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolf-alice)[25](https://www.nme.com/news/music/olly-alexander-danielle-st-james-trans-mission-interview-lgbtq-rights-awareness-3934222).
With the Mighty Hoopla festival he organized **Trans Mission**, a charity concert for trans rights held at [Wembley Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/wembley-arena) in March 2026, featuring Christine and the Queens, Kae Tempest, Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Wolf Alice, Adam Lambert, and others, with an appearance from Sir Ian McKellen[18](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/olly-alexander) • [25](https://www.nme.com/news/music/olly-alexander-danielle-st-james-trans-mission-interview-lgbtq-rights-awareness-3934222).
His commercial recognition includes the 2023 BRIT Billion Award for 6.5 billion streams globally, a waxwork figure at Madame Tussauds London, and collaborations with Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue, and the Pet Shop Boys[6](https://interscope.com/pages/artist/olly-alexander) • [26](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/15/olly-alexander-the-worst-thing-anyones-said-to-me-you-have-a-face-like-a-crumpled-napkin). He lives in London[26](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/15/olly-alexander-the-worst-thing-anyones-said-to-me-you-have-a-face-like-a-crumpled-napkin).
## References
1. [Olly Alexander, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/olly-alexander/)
2. [Olly Alexander – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2728054/awards/)
3. [Eurovision 2024 United Kingdom: Olly Alexander – "Dizzy", EurovisionWorld](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2024/united-kingdom)
4. [Best, Worst, and Most Talked About Moments From the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, TIME](https://time.com/6977225/eurovision-song-contest-2024-best-worst-moments/)
5. [Inside Olly Alexander's 'Polari', GRAMMY.com (Bianca Gracie)](https://www.grammy.com/news/olly-alexander-polari-album-inspirations-years-and-years/)
6. [Olly Alexander, Interscope Records](https://interscope.com/pages/artist/olly-alexander)
7. [Olly Alexander Biography, AllMusic (Rich Wilson)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/olly-alexander-mn0003277044)
8. [Olly Alexander on success, sanity and It's a Sin, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/11/olly-alexander-on-success-sanity-and-its-a-sin-all-those-hot-guys-i-loved-it)
9. [Olly Alexander: ‘I think vulnerability is the greatest power of all’ | British GQ](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/olly-alexander-interview-2021)
10. [Olly Alexander: 'Success is overwhelming...', The Guardian (Tom Lamont)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/07/olly-alexander-success-is-overwhelming-people-talk-to-you-differently)
11. [Olly Alexander on "It's a Sin," New Music and Gay Audiences, Them](https://www.them.us/story/olly-alexander-its-a-sin-interview)
12. [Olly Alexander On Stage, London Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/olly-alexander)
13. [Olly Alexander facts, Smooth Radio](https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/olly-alexander-age-songs-boyfriend/)
14. [Eurovision 2024 handbook, ESC-plus](https://www.esc-plus.com/downloads/handbook-esc-2024.pdf)
15. [Olly Alexander, MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e9581624-d443-4dad-86f0-4f489283507c)
16. [Olly Alexander: Can Dizzy put Eurovision 2024 in a spin?, BBC News (Mark Savage)](https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68434209)
17. [Former Years & Years Frontman Olly Alexander Speaks His Own Language with 'Polari', SPIN (Lily Moayeri)](https://www.spinmagazine.com/2025/02/former-years-years-frontman-olly-alexander-speaks-his-own-language-with-polari/)
18. [Olly Alexander, The Guardian topic page](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/olly-alexander)
19. [Singer Olly Alexander on Eurovision, Irish Independent (Aoife Rooney)](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/singer-olly-alexander-i-tried-to-shut-out-all-of-the-noise-but-there-were-moments-at-eurovision-that-were-so-tough-it-was-hard-to-deal-with/a25613079.html)
20. [Olly Alexander Releases New Album 'Polari', BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Olly-Alexander-Releases-New-Album-Polari-20250207)
21. [Olly Alexander: Polari review, The Guardian (Alexis Petridis)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/06/olly-alexander-polari-review-hi-nrg-throwback-for-the-radio-2-crowd)
22. [Album reviews: Olly Alexander – Polari, The Independent (Roisin O'Connor)](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/olly-alexander-review-polari-inhaler-open-wide-b2693644.html)
23. [Olly Alexander review, Palladium, The Guardian (Kitty Empire)](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/apr/12/olly-alexander-palladium-london-review-part-night-creature-part-light-entertainer-polari)
24. [Olly Alexander Reincarnates as Himself After Years & Years, theBUZZ magazine](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/d0b20672f0a72fd297a973295d29818c0df88bdb.pdf)
25. [Olly Alexander: "I hope that Trans Mission is a beacon of positivity...", NME (Liberty Dunworth)](https://www.nme.com/news/music/olly-alexander-danielle-st-james-trans-mission-interview-lgbtq-rights-awareness-3934222)
26. [Olly Alexander Q&A, The Guardian (Rosanna Greenstreet)](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/15/olly-alexander-the-worst-thing-anyones-said-to-me-you-have-a-face-like-a-crumpled-napkin)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present › Dance-pop and electropop singers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license