The UK is gearing up to host the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time since 1998, after Katrina and the Waves scored 227 points in Dublin with Love Shine A Light. The 2023 contest will be held in Liverpool, with the city's arena hosting on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine who are unable to host due to the ongoing war.
This year marks the 67th edition of the competition as 37 countries compete for the coveted trophy. With both semi-finals and the Grand Final broadcasting live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer for the first time ever, the BBC will also deliver additional programming across TV, BBC iPlayer, radio, BBC Sounds and online of the world’s biggest music show.
In the run-up, The One Show and BBC Breakfast will broadcast live from Liverpool all week. Radio 2 will become the home of Eurovision on BBC Radio and BBC Sounds with Scott Mills and Rylan bringing their sharp-witted commentary to the network for the final with Paddy O’ Connell on duty for the semi-finals as Radio 2 broadcast the all-important qualifiers for the first time ever, and a Eurovision icon will make a surprise appearance in EastEnders.
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Both semi-finals broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer will be presented by Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina with Eurovision legend Graham Norton joining the musical trio on stage for the final. Both Graham and Mel Giedroyc will take it in turns to step into the commentary box for the final to bring audiences their unique and expert views on the 2023 acts.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 live shows will also feature performances from singing superstar Rita Ora, 2022 Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra, the UK’s Sam Ryder who won hearts as he shot into second place with his song Space Man, Liverpool singer Rebecca Ferguson and icons of Eurovision.
Kate Phillips, BBC Director of Unscripted said: “We couldn't be more proud and excited to give our audiences such a huge array of world class Eurovision content. It's an honour for the BBC to host the show on behalf of Ukraine, and we're committed to do them proud. The level of collaboration and coordination across so much of the output is truly amazing. Let the Eurovision Song Contest begin!”
Representing the United Kingdom this year is singer-songwriter Mae Muller with her track I Wrote A Song. Following a random draw for hosts United Kingdom and Ukraine, Mae will be closing the show in 26th position whilst Ukraine’s entry Tvorchi with their song Heart of Steel will perform in 19th position in the grand final. The remainder of the running order of the final will be determined once the semi-finals are concluded.
The first semi-final will be screened at 8pm on Tuesday, May 9 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will open with a film celebrating host city Liverpool and a welcome given to Ukraine. Audiences will see a young Liverpudlian boy travel across the city telling his family, friends, neighbours (and some special guests) that the world’s greatest music competition is arriving in his hometown.
The film will end live in the arena with host Julia Sanina performing Маяк by her band The Hardkiss. Translating from the Ukrainian for Lighthouse the performance will symbolise in many ways how the UK is ‘united by music’ with Ukraine through the hosting the 2023 Contest on behalf of the 2022 winners.
For semi-final one’s interval, during which voting is open but not for audiences in the UK, Rita Ora will perform a medley of some of her biggest hits and a world exclusive of her new single Praising You and Ukrainian singer Alyosha, who represented Ukraine in Eurovision 2010, will perform alongside Liverpool’s very own Rebecca Ferguson.
Like many Ukrainian women in 2022, Alyosha was forced to leave her country and loved ones behind to seek refuge; Alyosha will share her personal journey through a haunting arrangement of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World. Alyosha and Rebecca will tell a story of hope, courage, and support for the people of Ukraine from across the world.
The first group of countries who will compete for a place in Saturday’s Grand Final are: Azerbaijan, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland.
The second semi-final will be screened at 8pm on Thursday May 11 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will treat audiences to an impassioned spoken word piece which will take them through the history of the song contest.
The interval will include a performance titled ‘Music Unites Generations’, exploring the connection between generations of Ukrainians and the music they love. Mariya Yaremchuk, who represented Ukraine in Eurovision 2014, will lead a contemporary montage of some of the most well-known pieces of music from the country.
As the performance travels through time, the piece will end with a collaboration between rapper OTOY, 14-year-old Ukrainian Junior Eurovision representative Zlata Dziunka, and Mariya. Together, they will show that for generations of Ukrainians, music is the light that overcomes darkness.
Also in the interval, a performance called Be Who You Wanna Be will celebrate how Eurovision is a place for everyone. Three drag performers with a troupe of eclectic dancers will represent the huge spectrum of fans – regardless of age, nationality, or background – who revel in being a part of Eurovision every year.
The remaining 16 countries taking to the stage in the hope of securing a place in Saturday’s Grand Final will be: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, San Marino and Slovenia. During the show, UK audiences will be able to vote for who they want to see go through to the Grand Final.
The Grand Final will be screened at 8pm on Saturday May 13, featuring all the acts who successfully made it through the semi-finals along with the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy who make up the 'Big Five' - the countries who pay the most money into the European Broadcasting Union. Joining them will be last year’s winner Ukraine who also automatically qualify.
The show will open with last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra and a powerful performance titled Voices of a New Generation. During the Eurovision Flag Parade of all 26 finalists there will be a performance by some iconic past Ukrainian Eurovision contestants.
For the first interval performance, during which voting across Europe and the world takes place, Sam Ryder will make his triumphant return to the Eurovision stage after leading the UK’s biggest success in last year’s contest in over two decades.
The final interval act The Liverpool Songbook will be a celebration of the host city’s contribution to the world of pop music. The BBC has brought together six iconic past Eurovision acts – Israel's Netta, Italy's Mahmood, Iceland's Daði Freyr, Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands, Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs and Liverpool's very own Sonia, celebrating 30 years since she came second at Eurovision in 1993.
The result of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will be decided by juries and viewers watching at home. Votes will come from a jury of five music professionals in each of the 37 countries taking part as well as from the audience, which for the first time will include non-competing ‘rest of the world’ countries.
After audiences have cast their Grand Final votes, each national spokesperson from the 37 participating countries will present the points of their professional jury live to the world. After the presentation of the scores from the juries, the televoting points from all participating countries, and for the first time the rest of the world, will be combined – providing one score for each song. These televoting results will then be announced by the hosts building towards the winner of Eurovision 2023 being announced.
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