On Monday, it was revealed that the UK would host the Eurovision song contest for Ukraine the following year.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has begun negotiations with the BBC, the competition’s runner-up, because the show could not be staged in Ukraine, the winning nation, because of that nation’s ongoing war with Russia, according to a statement from the event’s organizers.
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Martin Osterdahl, the competition’s executive supervisor.
Along with the “Big 5,” Ukraine will automatically qualify for the upcoming competition’s Grand Final (countries that financially contribute the most towards the contest: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK).
Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of Ukraine’s UA: PBC, this year’s winning broadcaster, added: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine … 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.”
“Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege,” said BBC Director-General Tim Davie. “The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.”
The bid process is scheduled to start this week, although it is not yet known which city would host the event.
“Last week President Zelenskyy and I agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine,” tweeted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “As we are now hosts, the UK will honour that pledge directly – and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends.”