United Kingdom to host Eurovision Song Contest 2023 instead of Ukraine

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC have confirmed that the United Kingdom will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of this year's winning broadcaster, Ukraine’s television.

This is said in a statement published on the organization’s website, Ukrinform.

“As a result of those discussions, the BBC, as runner up in the 2022 Contest, was invited by the EBU to act as Host Broadcaster for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest. Ukraine, as the winning country in 2022, will automatically qualify for the Grand Final of the upcoming Contest along with the so-called ‘Big 5’ (those countries that financially contribute the most towards the Contest: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom),” the statement reads.

According to Martin Österdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor, the BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions.

“Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event,” he said.

In turn, Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of UA:PBC, added that 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,” he said.

In addition, it was revealed that representatives of UA: PBC will work with the BBC to develop and implement the Ukrainian elements of next year’s shows.

“The logo for the 2023 event will also be revealed later and will reflect the unique staging of next year’s Contest and the cooperation between the host country and this year’s winners,” the statement reads.

As reported by Ukrinform, in May 2022, the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with their song "Stephania".

In June, the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that the next Eurovision Song Contest will not be held in Ukraine due to the war.

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