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UK in talks to host Eurovision 2023 as Ukraine ruled out
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The European Broadcasting Union has announced the UK could be the next host of Eurovision as Ukraine is ruled out.
The Ukrainian entry of Kalush Orchestra won the competition last month and, going by Eurovision tradition, Ukraine would host the event next year.
However, The European Broadcasting Union has today said that following a ‘full assessment and feasibility study’, it has been decided that the ‘security and operational guarantees’ required to host cannot be fulfilled by Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC.
The EBU then confirmed it was in talks with the BBC to potentially host the event in the UK next year after singer Sam Ryder finished in second place.
The EBU said in a statement: “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 May 14th 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.”
In response, the BBC said in a statement on Twitter: “We have seen the announcement from the EBU. Clearly these aren’t a set of circumstances that anyone would want.
“Following their decision, we will of course discuss the BBC hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.”
The last time the UK won the Eurovision contest was in 1997 when Katrina and The Waves scooped 227 points with their hit song ‘Love Shine a Light’.