Liverpool will play host to the Eurovision Song Contest next year, it has been confirmed.
The winning city was announced live by host Graham Norton on Friday's episode of The One Show. The UK was confirmed to be hosting the iconic contest, which attracts 161 million viewers worldwide, after this year's champions Ukraine were unable to accept the baton due to the ongoing war with Russia.
The UK's entry Sam Ryder blew the judges and audiences at home away with his hit Space Man, earning the UK the impressive second-place spot on the Eurovision leader board behind Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra. The tune won the jury vote and bagged 466 points after Sam's performance in Turin, Italy in May.
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The UK has previously hosted Eurovision eight times - four in London, as well as Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham. The last time that the contest came to the country was 24 years ago for the Birmingham show back in 1998, after Katrina and the Waves won in 1997.
A shortlist of seven cities that were in the running to host Eurovision was announced in August, with Newcastle on the list as well as Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. Officials put their heart into the city's hosting campaign, showing off Newcastle in all its glory with a video inviting Eurovision to "come on over to our place".
After Newcastle was confirmed not to have made it into the final two, Cllr Alex Hay said: "Naturally I am very disappointed. Right from the very start our residents, businesses and communities have come together to get behind our campaign, and I couldn't have been prouder with our efforts, and I would like to thank them all for their amazing efforts."
He added: "This isn't the end of Newcastle's Eurovision journey. We'll be hosting all sorts of events in the city to celebrate Eurovision and Ukrainian culture which residents and visitors can get involved in."
The BBC's director of unscripted content Kate Phillips said of next year's show: "We are committed to delivering a truly unique Song Contest that celebrates wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all its diversity."
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