Craig Hill reckons the Eurovision Song Contest WILL be held in Glasgow and has put himself forward to host it.
Glasgow city council have already opened up informal talks about putting on the event after the show’s organisers decided the event could not be held in the winning country, Ukraine, due to the ongoing war following Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine’s entrant Kalush Orchestra won this year’s contest in May in a symbolic show of public support, while the UK’s Sam Ryder came second for the UK, the country’s best result since 1998.
Eurovison chiefs have now asked the BBC to show the 2023 event and Glasgow is the bookies favourite although there are another 15 city's who have joined the race including Aberdeen, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast and Cardiff.
Glasgow and the OVO Hydro ticks all the boxes with the city hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the MTV Europe Music Awards the same year and the MOBO Awards in 2009.
The Hydro was named the world’s second busiest concert venue in 2019 behind New York’s Madison Square Garden. Eurovision megafan Craig Hill reckons it will take place in Glasgow next year – at the Hydro – and has put himself up for hosting it.
The kilted comic from East Kilbride is a regular audience member at Eurovision and was in Italy’s Turin when Ukraine won.
He said: “I really do think it’s going to be at the Hydro and it seems like all the fans do as well. I would host Eurovision in a shot!
“If it ends up there Glasgow will be a great host city!”
Like Glasgow he has competition to be the host with names in the running including Graham Norton, who has been the commenting on Eurovision for the UK since 2009, Rylan Clark, This Morning's Alison Hammond and news presenter Huw Edwards saying he'd like to do it if it's in Cardiff.
While the UK has won Eurovision five times – the second time in 1969 with Scots singer Lulu’s Boom Bang-a-Bang, Scotland has only hosted once – in Edinburgh in 1972. Craig added: “I have to tell you when you go to the Eurovision Song Contest it’s the most infectious fun thing to get involved in.
“One week of shows on every single night building up to the final with people from all over the world.
“It’s such a happy, fun, ridiculous thing to join in on. And the reaction to the UK doing so well while we were in Italy was unbelievable!
“The Eurovision Song Contest is like one of these things that you don’t realise how much fun it is to be there until you give it a go. It’s brilliant.”
And while he’s known for a note-perfect impersonation of Shirley Bassey he’s not looking to try out as the UK entry.
Craig laughed: “I think I’m quite happy being a punter – or the host.” Before he’s given the nod Craig has his 23rd Edinburgh Festival Fringe run to complete.
Kicking off next Thursday he’s back to a proper month-long run after only being able to do nine shows last year because of Covid restrictions and the Fringe not running in 2020.
He said: “I just can’t wait for the atmosphere of everyone doing shows at the same time and everyone being out watching them.”
● Craig Hill’s
Edinburgh Festival Fringe show I Always Knew I Had it in Me! runs from August 4-28 at the Just the Tonic Nucleus. Tickets from tickets.edfringe.com
