The 67th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the United Kingdom, following the BBC accepting the EBU’s offer, on Ukraine’s behalf.
Following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision that Ukraine will not host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, last month, they offered the responsibility to the United Kingdom, as the runner-up. After a month of discussion and negotiation between the BBC, the DCMS (Department of Culture, Media & Sport) and the EBU, the BBC have formally accepted the offer to host the contest, next May.
Additionally, the EBU have confirmed that the contest, while being held in the UK, will reflect Ukrainian culture, and that the BBC will be seeking advice from Ukraine’s broadcaster, UA:PBC, to ensure that this happens. One part of this will involve the logo, which usually holds the flag of the host nation inside the heart, the EBU have announced that the logo will be different this year, to acknowledge Ukraine. A logo will likely be released later in the Autumn.
Additionally, as winner’s of the previous year, Ukraine will automatically qualify to the Grand Final. The United Kingdom already have automatic qualification, as part of the “Big Five”, so the usual number of 26 songs will compete in the Grand Final.
Nadine Dorries, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, and the woman who’ll be overlooking preparations for the contest, has made it very clear that the UK have accepted the responsibility to help support Ukraine, and their war effort, standing side by side.
Additionally, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, one of President Zelenskyy key-allies, has commented on the contest coming to the United Kingdom.
While the enthusiasm is welcome, it marks a strong contrast to the Prime Minister, and Secretary of State’s, approach, a month ago, when they dismissed the possibility of hosting the contest. Obviously, negotiations with the EBU seemed to have gone better than the Prime Minister’s negotiations with the EU, a few years ago.
The United Kingdom have hosted 8 times, in the past: 4 of which in London, and then once in Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate, and most recently, in Birmingham. Multiple cities across the United Kingdom have, already, expressed an interest in being the UK’s 5th city to host the Eurovision Song Contest! Frontrunners, now, include Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Cardiff.
The Director General of the BBC, Tim Davie, has said it will be a “great privilege” to host the competition, but regretful that Ukraine were not able to host.
He said the broadcaster would make the event “a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity”.
Host City bidding will commence this week, with an announcement due in September or October.
