Eurovision will be hosted in the UK next year – and the host nation is currently the second favourite to win the song contest.
While we don’t know which city will host Eurovision (it’s down to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield), bookmakers William Hill have placed 6/1 odds on the UK winning on home soil.
If the UK were to secure the votes of the jury and the public and come first, it would be the UK’s first win since 1997.
However, we may see a repeat of this year’s leadership board, if the current odds are anything to go by.
The current early favourite to win is Ukraine, which won this year’s Eurovision song contest amid the conflict in the country following Russia’s invasion.
The odds of Ukraine winning are currently 2/1.
William Hill spokesperson Tony Kenny said: “The discussion surrounding Eurovision 2023 is heating up, and it’s Ukraine who are the early favourites to claim the title. Winning the competition this year, with the vastly popular Kalush Orchestra, they are 2/1 to prevail again and eclipse the 6/1 hosts and 2022 runners-up, the UK.”
Despite winning in 2022, Ukraine is unable to host as it remains at war with Russia. As a result, even though the contest will be held in the UK in 2023, it is set to be a celebration of Ukraine.
Ukraine will automatically qualify for the final, and a BBC spokesperson said: “The show will celebrate the culture and heritage of Ukraine as the winners of the 2022 contest, alongside the Eurovision’s proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music.”
The other European countries with a chance of appearing at the top of the leaderboard next year are Italy at 7/1, Sweden at 10/1, and Spain, France and Norway at 16/1.
The odds of Greece or Poland winning are 18/1, while Australia and Switzerland’s chances currently stand at 20/1, and Belgium and Serbia’s odds are 25/1.
In the 2022 edition of the song contest Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won with Stefania, while Sam Ryder came second representing the UK with Space Man.
Spain came third with Chanel’s SloMo, Sweden came in fourth with Cornelia Jakobs’ Hold Me Closer, while Serbia came in fifth place with Konstrakta’s In corpore sano.
