Songwriter Mike Connaris is hoping he doesn't score nil points at this year's Eurovision song contest.

The 52-year-old from Sanderstead wrote and composed the ballad chosen as the Cypriot entry in the competition in Istanbul in May.

It may seem unusual for a Croydon boy to be writing for Cyprus, but for Mike it is a dream come true.

He wrote a number of songs for the UK's Eurovision entry with his business partner Paul, narrowly missing the top spot for two years running.

Changes in the competition's entry rules meant Mike, whose dad is from Cyprus, could apply to write for his father's home country.

Slowly things fell into place and last month Mike's ballad, Stronger Every Minute, was selected as the Cypriot entry in the contest.

Having overcome that hurdle, Mike is keeping his fingers crossed that his song, performed by 16-year-old Lisa Andreas from Gillingham, will win a place in the finals on May 15.

But first Lisa will have to give the performance of her life when she competes against 22 countries for one of 10 remaining places in the finals.

The song, mostly written in English, is far removed from the typical Eurovision fare of cheesy pop tunes and over-the-top glitzy costumes.

Indeed, Mike believes that is one of its strongest selling points.

"This song was written with Lisa in mind, he said. "It is about the typical problems in a relationship, when people don't talk to each other and it all goes wrong.

"It's not really a Cypriot song at all. It's a traditional ballad, it's very different for Eurovision.

"It's all quite exciting," he added.

And he urged digital viewers to tune into BBC3 on May 12 and vote Lisa through to the finals, saying: "The UK has got two chances of winning the Eurovision this year!"

Mike is managing director of music production company Mcasso, which he set up in the 1980s.

The company has written and produced the music and jingles for thousands of commercials including Gillette, Marks and Spencer and Renault London.

He is also a drummer with the band The Original Blue, which disbanded in the 1970s but reformed last year.