Rylan Clark said "he's never seen anything like it" as he heaped praise on Liverpool.
The Eurovision host appeared on Lorraine ahead of the first semi final at the M&S Bank Arena tonight. The 34-year-old told Lorraine Kelly how he has been blown away by the welcoming nature of Liverpudlians since he arrived in the city for the international song contest.
He said: "From a personal level. Thank you to the people of Liverpool because everywhere I've been over this past days, people have just been so lovely, so welcoming and so accommodating.
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"Everyone just wants to be a part of it. When you're here on the ground, the feeling, Lorraine, I really wish I could describe down the lens but it's like a cuddle. Everyone is welcome."
Rylan spoke of his excitement as the contest officially starts later. He said: "I love it, I've been so lucky to be a part of Eurovision for the last six years now. Every time this week comes around I would normally say, ‘I can’t wait to get on a plane’ however, we’re on home turf, so I've got to behave myself because people know who I am.
“We’ve already had one Coronation this week but this week we will get a new Coronation, right here at Eurovision! Will it be a King or a Queen, who knows?”
However, he did admit he had one concern ahead of Saturday's grand final as he said: "I’m hosting the show and then coming into the commentary box through the crowd, but the shoes I’ve got are about ‘that high’, so if I die, what a place to go!”
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