GLASGOW and Aberdeen city council's have confirmed they will enter bids to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.
It comes after it was announced the 67th edition of the competition will be held in the UK.
In a statement, the European Broadcasting Union said it would be held on behalf of this year’s winning broadcaster, Ukraine’s UA: PBC.
The UK came runners-up to Ukraine in the 2022 contest after a rousing performance by Sam Ryder.
But given Ukraine - which would traditionally host next year's competition - remains under siege from Russian forces, it has been decided the UK should step in.
A statement from BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
“Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege.
“The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.
“The BBC will now begin the process to find a host city to partner with us on delivering one of the most exciting events to come to the UK in 2023.”
The BBC has staged the Eurovision Song Contest more times than any other broadcaster, on eight occasions so far.
The contest was held in Edinburgh in 1972 in the city's Usher Hall.
Many have speculated the event could be hosted in Scotland, where it was held in the popular Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
In the film, the event was held in Edinburgh but depicted Glasgow's OVO Hydro as being the host venue.
Glasgow officially topped the odds to host according to betting sites last month while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon jumped at the chance to offer it up as a potential host city saying she was happy to go into talks with the BBC and the EBU.
The city council confirmed on Monday it would bid to host the 2023 contest.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Since it became a possibility that the UK might host on behalf of Ukraine we’ve been working hard on our bid.
“We know we meet all the technical requirements, and we know Glaswegians are desperate to welcome the world with open arms.
“Time is now really short to organise the contest and, having recently hosted COP, we know Glasgow is the safest of safe pairs of hands.”
No city has been given the job of hosting the event yet but places that meet the right criteria will be able to compete for the opportunity in a bidding process to be launched this week.
Aberdeen, London, Manchester and Sheffield are among the other cities offering to host.
Last month Aberdeen City Council approved spending £30,000 to support an official bid to host the event here.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “We were disappointed to learn that Eurovision 2023 cannot take place in Ukraine. Aberdeen has a track record of delivering major international events and now that the EBU has confirmed that the BBC will host the 2023 Eurovision song contest, we will look at the next steps in terms of the shortlisting process.
"The Council has already instructed officers to continue the dialogue with relevant stakeholders and to look at the implications for the Council of hosting this international event and its huge fanbase.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is a massive event with a worldwide audience. We have the city, the people and infrastructure to support international events such as this and it would provide a major boost to the Aberdeen and Scottish economies and raise the city’s profile with potential investors and visitors.”
As well as selling their vision for a fantastic contest, potential host cities are expected to demonstrate that they can meet a list of expectations. Last year, the EBU’s host city criteria was based on providing a venue able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators as well as a press centre that should be within easy reach of an international airport and with ample hotel accommodation.
After it was announced the UK will host Eurovision in 2023, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “The Eurovision Song Contest unites people through the power of music and creativity.
“Following a request from the European Broadcasting Union and the Ukrainian authorities, I’m delighted that the BBC has agreed to step in and host next year’s contest.
“I’m just sorry that due to Russia’s continued acts of bloodshed it has not been possible to host the event in Ukraine, where it should be.
“As hosts, the UK will honour the competition’s spirit and diversity, and most importantly, ensure it reflects Ukraine’s recent Eurovision victory and Ukrainian creativity.”
In an EBU press release published earlier, it was announced that this decision had been made following the exploration of hosting the contest in Ukraine, and regrettably concluding that for safety and security reasons this was not possible.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC, said: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine.
“We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.
“I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent.”
Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final of the upcoming contest along with the so-called ‘Big Five’ – those countries that financially contribute the most towards the contest: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
It was also revealed that representatives of UA: PBC will work with the BBC to develop and implement the Ukrainian elements of next year’s shows.
Martin Osterdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s executive supervisor, said: “We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023.
“The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions.
“Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.”
The logo for the 2023 event will also be revealed later and will reflect the unique staging of next year’s contest and the cooperation between the UK and Ukraine.
