Will Eurovision be moved from Ukraine to UK?

‘Disappointment’ over decision that war-torn nation can’t host contest

UKRAINE’S public broadcaster has said it is ‘disappointed’ to be told it will not be hosting next year’s Eurovision.

Competition bosses are in talks with the BBC about staging the 2023 event after deciding it could not be held in the war-torn country.

Sam Ryder, Britain’s entry at last month’s event in Turin, came runner-up to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra.

Following an announcement of the talks, Ukraine’s public broadcaster, UA:PBC, claimed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had denied Ukraine its right to host amid security concerns.

It called for negotiations on a new location to be put on hold.

Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the broadcaster’s managing board, said: ‘We are disappointed with this decision of the EBU.

‘During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfil the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country.

Security is, of course, our first priority.

‘The team of UA:PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options.

‘It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations.’ The broadcaster’s statement went on to detail a meeting on June 14 in which organisers from Ukraine met representatives of the EBU and the contest itself.

They discussed the issue of security and three potential hosting locations – the cities of Lviv and Kyiv and Zakarpattia, an area on the border with Hungary and Slovakia.

Downing Street welcomed the possibility of the UK hosting Eurovision if Ukraine cannot.

A No 10 spokesman said: ‘Ukraine’s victory in the Eurovision song contest was richly deserved and as the rightful winner the Government’s firm wish has been to see next year’s contest hosted there.

‘If the EBU decides the competition can’t go ahead in Ukraine, we would of course welcome the opportunity to work closely with Ukraine and the BBC to host it here.

‘But we would be committed to ensuring it overwhelmingly reflects Ukraine’s rich culture, heritage and creativity, as well as building on the ongoing partnership between our two countries.’

The BBC said it would discuss potentially hosting, adding: ‘Clearly, these aren’t a set of circumstances that anyone would want.’

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon offered up Glasgow as a potential host city, tweeting: ‘I can think of a perfect venue on banks of the River Clyde!!’