Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the UK on behalf of Ukraine, the BBC has announced.
Organisers of the show came to a conclusion that this year’s winning country, Ukraine, could not host the event due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, with the UK coming 2nd in this year’s contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) initiated talks with the BBC about hosting 2023’s contest.
This will be the eighth time the UK has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest – more than any other nation, with the most recent being in 1998.
A statement from BBC director general Tim Davie posted on Twitter read: “It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege.
“The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity” said the Twitter post announcing that next year’s Eurovision Song Contested will be held in the UK on behalf of Ukraine.
Confident
Head of the marketing board at Ukrainian broadcaster UA: PBC, Mykola Chernotytskyi, said: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine. We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.
“I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent.”
The exact location has not yet been revealed but cities such as Manchester and Glasgow have already stepped forward and conveyed their interest. Other cities that would have the capacity to present the show include London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Liverpool. They will need to provide evidence that they have the suitable arena, accommodation and transport links as well as going through a bidding process.
Ukraine’s entrant Kalush Orchestra triumphed in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in May in a symbolic show of public support, with Sam Ryder coming second for the UK. Though next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the UK on behalf of Ukraine, no date has been announced.
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