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Simon Duke

Eurovision's Sam Ryder backtracks on host city comments with 'diplomatic' reply as odds change

Sam Ryder kept his cards close to his chest on which city he wants to host Eurovision next year, during an interview on Good Morning Britain just days after naming Glasgow and Manchester as his favourites.

The fact that the United Kingdom is getting to stage the world famous event in 2023 is in no small part down to Sam, after he exceeded many people's expectations by taking his track Space Man all the way to second place at this year's contest in Turin.

Ukraine took the Eurovision crown this year with Kalush Orchestra but,. given what has gone on in the country this year with Russia's invasion, it was decided that they wouldn't host next year's contest. Instead the BBC has picked up the mantle for the UK with Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield on the shortlist of seven cities in the running to do the honours.

READ MORE: Eurovision host city odds change again as favourite 'pulls clear' of rivals and Newcastle joint last

Sam, who is hoping to play a part in Eurovision 2023 in the UK, was quizzed by GMB hosts Kate Garraway and Robert Rinder on where he thinks it should be held in the UK, as he joined them in the studio on Tuesday.

Putting him on the spot, Robert asked him: "Where do you hope it's going to be? Or do you want to stay neutral?" Hesitating slightly, Sam responded: "I'm going to stay...I think that question is best answered in a diplomatic way, because I and a lot of you guys I'm sure, are fans of Eurovision here and we've always enjoyed it, no matter where it is in the world.

"So why now would we be so interested in area code, which stadium will be emitting this roar," as Kate chimed in to quiz: "So you don't mind?"

Sam told her: "I don't mind. It's like when the World Cup happens; I'm absolutely stoked and it's nowhere near my doorstep!"

Sam's comments on Good Morning Britain conflict with the ones he made in an interview with Metro Radio last week to promote his new single Somebody, when he said: “I mean I’d be happy with it anywhere, but Manchester seems like a good bet, or Glasgow. They’re the ones that I think it could go to.”

Glasgow are the bookies favourites and have been since day one, with them well ahead of Manchester in the latest odds.

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