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Greg Evans
Jul 25, 2022
UK Will Likely Host Eurovision 2023 Instead Of Ukraine
Indy
The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the UK next year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC have confirmed.
In a statement, the EBU said it would be held on behalf of this year’s winning broadcaster, Ukraine’s UA: PBC. A statement from BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
“Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege. The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.
“The BBC will now begin the process to find a host city to partner with us on delivering one of the most exciting events to come to the UK in 2023.”
Ukraine won this year's edition of the competition when their act Kalush Orchestra triumphed with their song 'Stefania.'
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Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC, said: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine.
“We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.
“I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent.”
The UK culture secretary Nadine Dorries added: "The Eurovision Song Contest unites people through the power of music and creativity. Following a request from the European Broadcasting Union and the Ukrainian authorities, I’m delighted that the BBC has agreed to step in and host next year’s contest.
“I’m just sorry that due to Russia’s continued acts of bloodshed it has not been possible to host the event in Ukraine, where it should be. As hosts, the UK will honour the competition’s spirit and diversity, and most importantly, ensure it reflects Ukraine’s recent Eurovision victory and Ukrainian creativity.”
Although it remains to be seen what kind of form next year's competition will take people are understandably very excited and you know what that means, right? Yes, you've guessed it: memes!
There are plenty of suggestions about who should be the host.
\u201cget her to host eurovision 2023 \u201d— Chad (@Chad) 1658747924
\u201cnominating the middle aisle as host #eurovision\u201d— Aldi Stores UK (@Aldi Stores UK) 1658749676
\u201ctime to manifest alison hammond as an eurovision host\u201d— david \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea (@david \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea) 1658748386
\u201ci think she should host eurovision next year \u201d— Nick \ud83c\udf39slay era \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 (@Nick \ud83c\udf39slay era \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9) 1658749108
\u201cI reckon we should let Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries host it. #eurovision\u201d— BatNab (@BatNab) 1658749387
And which city should host it.
\u201cAll the UK cities getting ready for the Eurovision host slot bidding war\u201d— Sophie Hall (@Sophie Hall) 1658747270
\u201cthe BBC when they select london as eurovision host city despite everyone saying no\u201d— ryan (@ryan) 1658749607
\u201cEvery city mayor in the UK scrambling to put forward a bid to host Eurovision next year\u201d— D\u2728 (@D\u2728) 1658748226
\u201cPerfect venue on George IV Bridge for Edinburgh to host #Eurovision next year.\u201d— Alan Roden (@Alan Roden) 1658748658
\u201cJust to be on the safe side, we should probably host the Eurovision Song Contest in Dover.\u201d— Pundamentalism (@Pundamentalism) 1658749321
Zelensky for the interval act anyone?
\u201cNow that it\u2019s confirmed the UK will host Eurovision and will use the event to promote Ukranian culture, there is surely only one choice for the interval act.\u201d— James Chalmers (@James Chalmers) 1658748254
Additional reporting by PA.
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