Bristol's bid to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine was over almost as soon as it began on Friday, when the BBC and Eurovision bosses announced a shortlist of cities still in contention, and Bristol wasn't on it.
As many as 20 cities across the United Kingdom offered to host the song contest next May, but Bristol was among the 13 cut from the bidding, along with London and Belfast, as Eurovision broadcasters and organisers whittled the competition down to seven cities.
Bristol's bid was unique among all those 20, in that the city does not yet have a venue to host it - Mayor Marvin Rees's plan was to divert the ongoing work to convert the Brabazon Hangars at Filton Airfield into a 17,000-capacity arena and convert it quickly into a bespoke venue to temporarily host the Eurovision Song Contest next May.
