UK cities in race to host Eurovision!
After decades in song contest wilderness, we’ll stage 2023 event for war-torn Ukraine
‘Put on a fantastic show’
NEXT year’s eurovision song Contest will be held in Britain on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, it was confirmed yesterday.
And the race to become the first British host city in 25 years has already started – with London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Leeds having thrown their hats in the ring.
Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra won this year’s competition in Italy, gaining the right to host the 2023 event.
But with the ongoing Russian invasion, the european Broadcasting Union announced last month that there were too many security risks involved. As the UK’s sam Ryder finished second in May, the group which owns eurovision turned to the BBC. It has promised to make the contest a ‘true reflection of Ukrainian culture’.
the search for a city to partner the BBC in delivering the event has now begun – with the jockeying for position well under way.
the last time we hosted the contest was in Birmingham in 1998, following Katrina and the Waves’ win. Birmingham was one of those to put its name forward yesterday, with its city council saying it was ‘working with the government... to investigate the potential for hosting eurovision’.
Mayor of London sadiq Khan tweeted that the capital ‘would welcome eurovision with open arms’, with the O2 Arena and Wembley Arena potential venues. scotland’s First Minister Nicola sturgeon said that ideally eurovision should be in the Ukraine, but added: ‘however, I can think of a perfect venue on banks of the River Clyde!’ this appeared to be a recommendation for Glasgow’s Ovo hydra arena.
And Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, wrote on twitter: ‘If it’s to be a UK city – I can’t think of anywhere better, a music city and fittingly home to a large Ukrainian community.’
Manchester has the biggest Ukrainian population in the UK outside of London.
Leeds, which had hoped to be european Capital of Culture next year, has contacted the Government and BBC to lobby for its First Direct Arena.
‘Given that we will be mid-way through the Leeds 2023 year of culture, it could not come at a better time,’ a statement from Leeds City Council’s leaders said.
Brighton, which saw Abba’s historic victory in 1974, wants to bring eurovision back.
Brighton and hove City Council Leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said: ‘We’d love to see the event come back to the city and share some of our lucky stardust with the next global superstars.’
the european Broadcasting Union’s decision in June to rule out Ukraine as the 2023 prompted Kyiv to launch an appeal.
But, speaking after yesterday’s announcement, the head of the Ukrainian state broadcaster Mykola Chernotytskyi said: ‘We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.’
Oleh Psiuk, lead singer of Kalush Orchestra, said: ‘Of course, we are very sad that the eurovision song Contest will not be held in Ukraine next year. But we are grateful to the UK for their solidarity.’ Ukraine will automatically qualify for the Grand Final alongside the so- called Big Five – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and spain, who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions.
BBC director-general tim Davie said: ‘the BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.’
Boris Johnson said the UK would ‘put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends’. he added that in talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last week they ‘agreed that wherever eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine’.