UK to host Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine

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The UK will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, it has been confirmed.

Next year’s contest will be held in a UK city on behalf of Ukraine, which was ruled out from hosting “with deep regret” by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) due to “safety and security issues” caused by the war with Russia.

It was announced last month that the UK, which placed second at this year’s Eurovision, had been asked take over as host during the ongoing conflict.

Eurovision organisers said representatives will work with the BBC to incorporate Ukrainian elements into the show.

A host city bidding contest will begin this week, and mayors, councillors and MPs from several UK cities have already indicated that they intend to bid, including Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swindon and Wolverhampton.

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, tweeted that “London is ready and willing to step in”, while Bev Craig, leader of Manchester city council, confirmed that Manchester would also be bidding.

It’s very disappointing for Ukraine that they will be unable to host Eurovision next year.

London is ready and willing to step in. We would be honoured to put on a contest that celebrates the people of Ukraine and shows off the very best of Britain. https://t.co/hIXh1JFdIa

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 25, 2022

It’s very disappointing for Ukraine that they will be unable to host Eurovision next year.

London is ready and willing to step in. We would be honoured to put on a contest that celebrates the people of Ukraine and shows off the very best of Britain. https://t.co/hIXh1JFdIa

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 25, 2022

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The official long-list of potential host cities will be released later this summer.

With the UK not having hosted the Eurovision Song Contest since 1998, social media was flooded with what can only be described as joyful gay panic.

#Eurovision came home before the football. The girls and gays really won.