The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool has a Eurovisioncast (podcast) and one of the four panel members is Liverpool's own Ngunan Adamu, BBC Radio Merseyside presenter.
The podcasts bring new insights in the build up to the contest, featuring exclusive chats. Past guests include Scott Mills, Rylan, AJ Odudu and Owain Wyn Evans and they will speak to people from Liverpool with more special guests as the competition date draws nearer.
The ECHO caught up with BBC Merseyside presenter Ngunan from Toxteth.
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Ngunan told the ECHO: "I was headhunted. There was a few people whose names were put in the hat. I was the one they got in contact with, they liked the way I sounded and now I’m part of the dream team.
"I was so delighted. It was one of those things where you're in this industry for so long, and from a local radio station, you really don't know if anyone from the powers that be knows what you're doing.
"There are people who may think she has been only picked because she is a black woman, but I have got the credentials. There was a bit of imposter syndrome, but I’ve been in the BBC for 17 years and presented my show for 10 years.
"I love music and I was surprised, but this is my time to shine and I'm made up and ecstatic. I've been on 16 local Radio stations across England, including national stations Radio 2, Radio 5 Live and BBC Breakfast News".
The podcast team consists of; Ngunan Adamu (BBC Merseyside presenter), Nina Warhurst (BBC Breakfast Presenter), Daniel Rosney (Eurovision reporter BBC News) and Mans Zelmerlow (Swedish singer and former Eurovision winner in 2015 with the song Heroes) People across Europe and around the world can tune in to the team for all the latest gossip and interviews.
Ngunan added: "I've been working with my own organisation; I Woman Academy CiC, which is about empowering women in media and amplifying their voices. I've also been involved in BBC World Service training journalist globally which has taken me to places like Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh, and many more."
United by Music is the slogan this year, celebrating the power of music and how it connects people together. There will be nine shows across the week with the grand final on Saturday May 13 at the M&S Bank Arena.
The largest and most complex music event on television in the world, Eurovision is watched by around 160 million people every year. The 2023 contest will be a showcase of Ukrainian culture as well as reflecting the diversity of British music and creativity.
Eurovisoncast member Daniel Rosney said: "What I love most is that we all bring something different, so it means the podcast is for everyone. Whether you live and breathe it all year, like me and Måns, or you just watch it on tele, like Ngunan and Nina, but want to understand more about it this year then it’s for you.
"We’re looking at how important it is in other countries, the complicated ways some countries choose acts, and exploring why it is still one of the most watched events in the world. My favourite part so far though is definitely hearing from fans and artists who can’t wait to come to the United Kingdom and experience Liverpool and the party it’s going to put on".
New episodes of Eurovisioncast are available every Friday on BBC Sounds and also broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For Eurovision information visit: the ECHO's Facebook group HERE
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