Eurovision 2023: Graham Norton announces host city as LIVERPOOL after clash with Glasgow
- Music competition commentator Graham Norton, 59, appeared on The One Show on Friday to reveal where in the UK the event would be held after Liverpool and Glasgow were named the final two cities in the race last month
- Comedian Graham said: “The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool”
- Ukrainian entrant Kalush Orchestra triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the annual event, decided the show cannot safely take place in the country following the Russian invasion
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be held in Liverpool, it has been announced.
Music competition commentator Graham Norton, 59, appeared on The One Show on Friday to reveal where in the UK the event would be held after Liverpool and Glasgow were named the final two cities in the race last month.
Comedian Graham said: “The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool.”
A big announcement! Graham Norton announced on Friday during an appearance on The One Show that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool
Ukrainian entrant Kalush Orchestra triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the annual event, decided the show cannot safely take place in the country following the Russian invasion.
Sam Ryder, 33, who represented Britain in the competition and finished second overall this year to Ukraine, will appear on BBC One’s Graham Norton Show on Friday at 10.40pm, where the pair will announce the host city.
“Me and Sam will be discussing where Eurovision will be televised on Friday night – because by then we will know,” Graham said Thursday.
Congratulations: Comedian Graham said: ‘The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool’ (UK 2022 entry Sam Ryder pictured during the competition)
“I hope it’s okay to say that. But yes, I am. Unless you don’t want me to say that, in which case someone else – Sam Ryder will be there and open an envelope,” he joked.
Last month the BBC announced that Liverpool and Glasgow are the two cities battling to host next year’s Eurovision.
Britain got its ninth chance to host the event – more than any other country – after Sam Ryder finished second in the competition.
In August, the BBC published a list of 20 UK cities that had originally submitted an “expression of interest,” with applicants from all four regions demonstrating how they would reflect Ukrainian culture, music and communities.
Winners: Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra (pictured) triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the EBU decided the show could not safely take place in the country following the Russian invasion
Fighting back: Last month the BBC announced that Liverpool and Glasgow are the two cities bidding to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool is pictured
Of the seven cities named in August, six were in England and one in Scotland, with Belfast falling short of the Northern Ireland average.
Requirements included “a suitable venue and sufficient space to meet the requirements of the Song Contest”, the necessary commitment to the competition, including a financial contribution, and “alignment with the BBC’s strategic priorities as a public service broadcaster”. .
A UNESCO City of Music since 2015, Liverpool is synonymous with The Beatles and has a rich musical heritage.
Glasgow City Council leader said the city has “everything it takes” to host Eurovision after the shortlist was announced.
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in May next year.
Runner-up: Glasgow missed out on hosting the 67th Eurovision Song Contest after Britain had a ninth chance to host the event. Pictured is Glasgow