Which UK city would you choose to host Eurovision 2023?
Organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), decided the event could not be held in war-torn Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
With the BBC set to act as host broadcaster of Eurovision 2023 after the UK’s Sam Ryder came second to Ukraine this year, we wondered which city you would choose for the 67th annual competition.
The bidding process to select a host city will begin this week, with the BBC and EBU jointly making the final decision.
Sam Ryder finished second for the UK at Eurovision
Asked about the significance of the competition coming to the UK, Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz fame said: “I think it’s fantastic. I mean, it’s the biggest musical extravaganza in the world and it happens once a year and it’s coming to the UK.
“And I think actually as well, we came second to the Ukraine, it kind of makes sense that it comes here rather than anywhere else.
“Obviously, it can’t go to Ukraine, and I think it would be lovely for us to host it on behalf of Ukraine.
“As long as Ukraine are completely involved, as long as their presenters, we’ve basically given them the shell to do it in my opinion, I think their production teams and their presenters and everything should be totally involved.
“It’s just like we’re giving them the venue to use, that’s what I think.”
It comes as several of Britain’s major cities, including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds, threw their hat into the ring to host Eurovision on Monday.
How will the bidding process work?
The BBC has confirmed that the process to select the host city for the 2023 contest will begin this week.
It will manage the bidding along with the EBU and expects it to be completed by the autumn.
The United Kingdom will host #Eurovision 2023! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
➡️ Everything you need to know here: https://t.co/qQVS3gierN pic.twitter.com/IpHCA2i4U6
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) July 25, 2022
Where has the contest previously been hosted in the UK?
The UK has hosted the contest in London four times (1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977), and once each in Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974) and Harrogate (1982).
It last hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 in Birmingham following Katrina And The Waves’ victory in Dublin with Love Shine A Light.
Hosting it in 2023 will make it the ninth time the competition has taken place in the UK – more than any other country.
Abba won the song contest in Brighton in 1974
How much would hosting it cost?
Hosting Eurovision can be expensive.
Azerbaijan spent a reported £48 million on hosting the event in 2012, and Hungary withdrew from competing in the 2010 contest in part due to the global financial crisis.
It is not clear whether the BBC will have to pay to host the contest from its current licence fee allocation or if it will be given further money.
It comes as the BBC needs to save a further £285 million in response to Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries’ announcement in January that the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years.
Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the so-called big five nations, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest
