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The BBC is leading talks with numerous locations in the UK offering to host Eurovision 2023. The song contest, which was won in a landslide by Ukraine earlier in 2022, is traditionally hosted the following year in the winner’s country. Due to the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine, runners up the UK are offering to host the next event.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released a statement in June, outlining that it will not be possible to host Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine due to safety concerns, although this has received a mixed response from those in Ukraine. Oleksandr Tkachenko, the Ukrainian Culture Minister, previously reacted to the news in June saying to the BBC:
“Hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine is a powerful signal to all the world, which is supporting Ukraine now. We will be demanding to change the decision, because we believe that we will be able to fulfil all our obligations”.
The full EBU statement read:
“Following their win at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in May the EBU has been exploring options for the hosting of next year’s competition with Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC, who previously staged the event in 2017 and 2005.
It has become a well-known tradition that the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest hosts the competition the following year, providing certain criteria including ensuring the viability of staging the event and the safety of all stakeholders, including the public, are met.
Given the ongoing war since the Russian invasion of this year’s winning country, the EBU has taken the time to conduct a full assessment and feasibility study with both UA:PBC and third-party specialists including on safety and security issues.
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most complex TV productions in the world with thousands working on, and attending, the event and 12 months of preparation time needed.
Following objective analysis, the Reference Group, the ESC’s governing board, has with deep regret concluded that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest under the ESC Rules cannot be fulfilled by UA:PBC.
The EBU would like to thank UA:PBC for their wholehearted cooperation and commitment in exploring all scenarios in the weeks since Kalush Orchestra’s win on 14 May in Turin and share their sadness and disappointment that next year’s Contest cannot be held in Ukraine.
The EBU has been supporting UA:PBC across a whole range of areas since the invasion. We will ensure that this support continues so UA:PBC can maintain the indispensable service they provide to Ukrainians.
As a result of this decision, in accordance with the rules and to ensure the continuity of the event, the EBU will now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.
It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows. This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.”
While it is not confirmed as yet whether the UK will in fact host the 2023 event, the latest reports from the BBC hint that perhaps Newcastle is a strong contender – the north-eastern city has an 11,000 capacity arena, and excellent links to an international airport and nearby hotel accommodation. Newcastle’s local councillors have expressed their interest at welcoming Eurovision 2023 to the city, as have the UK cities of Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Leeds, London, Birmingham and Liverpool.
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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