A slew of extra Eurovision tickets will go on sale early next week, for nine live events being held in Liverpool in the run-up to the grand final.
Fans will be able to try and snap up the tickets which might allow them into the huge arena to see rehearsals, semi-finals and even the main event on May 13.
One BBC source told The Mirror: “It’s standard for big stage shows to release more tickets as the set and stage nears the end of its installation. There was huge demand when Eurovision tickets first went on sale back in March so this offers another chance for people to get their hands on some if they missed out first time around.”
News of the tickets will thrill fans, many of whom have already booked to travel to Liverpool anyway, to soak up the atmosphere. Some will travel from thousands of miles away, with fans expected from every continent of the globe.
When the tickets to the nine live shows went on sale last month, they sold out within 90 minutes leaving many fans disappointed.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 semi-finals will be held on May 9 and 11 at the Liverpool Arena, and will be screened on BBC1 for the first time.
The ticket news came as some of the show’s presenters told of their tactics to get through the whole week.
Comedian Mel Giedroyc, who will be in the commentary box with presenter Graham Norton for the final, said she was hoping espresso martinis would help her through the contest, which will start with the first semi-final on May 8 and see the winner announced on May 13.
She said: "There's not going to be a lot of sleep happening, which is a worry for me because I like to get about nine hours a night.”
Rylan Clark said he would curb his mad Eurovision partying this year because the contest is being held on home turf and he would get recognised. “I’m not in a country where people don’t know me,” he laughed. “I’ve got to be on my best behaviour.”
But he said he and fellow Radio 2 Eurovision presenter Scott Mills had come up with a cunning plan to disguise themselves in drag in order to go out in Liverpool. “Me and Scott are going to dress up one night,” he revealed. “I am going to be Verka and Scott is going to be Verka’s mum. We thought we’d have a little night out as them. We are doing it for real, someone is designing the outfits right now. It’s nothing to do with work, we’re just going to do it.”