Will Eurovision be moved from Ukraine to UK?
Bosses say winners can’t hold contest – with BBC in talks to host show instead
THE next Eurovision Song Contest could be hosted in the UK after bosses decided it could not be held in Ukraine.
Traditionally the nation that wins the competition is invited to host the show the following year.
And Ukraine’s entry Kalush Orchestra took first place with 631 points last month.
But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said yesterday that following a ‘full assessment’ that included looking at ‘safety and security issues’, it had decided the 2023 contest must be held elsewhere.
It also revealed it was in talks with the BBC about the possibility of holding the event in the UK. Sam Ryder, Britain’s entry at the event in Turin, came runner- up to Kalush Orchestra.
Downing Street welcomed the possibility of the UK hosting Eurovision if Ukraine cannot.
A No10 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 in the UK. 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: ‘We have seen the announcement from the EBU. Clearly these aren’t a set of circumstances that anyone would want. Following their decision, we will of course discuss the BBC hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.’
Following the EBU announcement, Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC claimed that the group had ‘denied Ukraine the right to host Eurovision 2023’. It called for negotiations on a new location to be put on hold.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA:PBC, 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.’
Ukraine joined the international contest in 2003 and its three victories make it one of the most successful of the newer competitor countries, having also triumphed in 2004 and 2016.