Eurovision? We’ll be in with a shout!
Lulu’s backing Glasgow to land contest
LuLu has backed a bid for the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Glasgow.
The Shout singer, who represented the united Kingdom at the competition in 1969, said the city deserved to host the event as it is ‘music-mad’.
Glasgow is one of many cities being touted after confirmation that the uK will host the event in 2023 on behalf of ukraine.
Organiser the European Broadcasting union (EBu) decided it could not be held in the war-torn country. The uK, whose entry Sam Ryder finished runner-up this year, will showcase the 67th contest, which the BBC has promised to make ‘a true reflection of ukrainian culture’. Lulu, born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, was only 20 when she performed Boom Bang-a-Bang at Eurovision in 1969. It was voted one of four joint winners.
The 73-year-old said: ‘It has to be Glasgow because that’s where I come from. They’re so politically savvy, they’re the most fabulous hosts, they absolutely are music-mad.
‘I think it would be just the most fabulous thing and I would be there. I just cannot wait.’
Next year will mark the ninth time the competition has been held in the uK – but Scotland has hosted it only once, in 1972, at Edinburgh’s usher Hall.
The search for a host city to partner the BBC in delivering the event will be hotly contested, with Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena already the bookies’ favourite.
Other cities to have thrown their names into the ring include London, Manchester, Sheffield, Belfast and Aberdeen.
Edinburgh has also suggested it could vie for the event, with the city’s council leader Cammy Day saying: ‘Time for Edinburgh and Glasgow to work together to bring @Eurovision to our cities.’
The bidding process will begin this week, with the BBC and EBu jointly making the final decision on which city will host.
It remains unclear whether the BBC will have to fund the contest from its licence fee allocation or if it will be given further money, although it is in talks with the Government on the issue.