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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Christopher Megrath

Hannah Waddingham's West End domination and Emmy win

Actress Hannah Waddingham will co-host Liverpool's Eurovision Song Contest in May.

The BBC broke the news through Zoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, sending fans into a meltdown. Making up one-fourth of "the fab four", she will join Britain's Got Talent panellist Alesha Dixon, Ukrainian pop superstar Julia Sanina, and the UK's staple Eurovison commentator, Graham Norton.

The London-born actress will bring with her a level of sophistication crafted from her years on the West End and opera influences laced throughout her family tree. The stage adopted Hannah as one of its leading ladies and she repaid them by drawing standing-room-only audiences.

READ MORE: When to expect Eurovision Song Contest tickets and how much they will cost

She originated the role of The Wicked Witch of the West in the West End's Wizard of Oz, owning the world's debut performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's track Red Shoe Blues in 2011. Over the course of her two-decade career, the 48-year-old has bagged herself multiple best actress Olivier award nominations for roles in Spamalot, A Little Night Music and Kiss Me Kate.

Hannah appeared on numerous acclaimed television shows including Brookside, Game of Thrones and Sex Education, peaking with an Emmy award for her role in Ted Lasso. Additional credits include Hocus Pocus 2, Willow and the upcoming Tom Jones limited series.

Now adding Eurovision presenter to her meticulous resume, the actress is proud to be a part of the world's biggest music community. She said: "There’s something really special about Eurovision which is why I’ve been an avid fan for years - from the camaraderie of all the acts backstage, to the epic scale of the show.

"It’s one of the world’s greatest music festivals, but this year, perhaps more than ever, it is such a great honour to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, a country which has carried itself with such strength and unity. It is my great privilege to join Eurovision this year of all years."

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