Ukraine's public broadcaster has called for "further negotiations" to be held about hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest there - after bosses decided a new location was needed because of the ongoing war. UA:PBC said it was "disappointed" and that the country "gained the right" to stage the competition following the 2022 Ukrainian entry's victory in Italy last month.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is in talks with the BBC over whether the UK could host the annual event, after Sam Ryder came second in Turin. Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA:PBC, said: “We are disappointed with this decision of the EBU.
“During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfil the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country. Security is, of course, our first priority.
“The team of UA: PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options. It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations.”
The broadcaster said a meeting happened on June 14 where organisers from Ukraine met representatives of the EBU and the contest itself. They discussed security and three potential hosting locations – Lviv, in Zakarpattia on the border with Hungary and Slovakia, and in Kyiv.
The statement continued: “As a reminder, after the victory of Kalush Orchestra at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, Ukraine gained the right to host the Song Contest next year. UA:PBC as a member of the European Broadcasting Union ensures the selection and participation of a representative of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest, is an official broadcaster of the contest, and organises the contest the following year in case of Ukraine’s victory.”
Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, Aberdeen, London and Liverpool have all been suggested as potential host cities. The BBC said: “We have seen the announcement from the EBU.
“Clearly these aren’t a set of circumstances that anyone would want. Following their decision, we will of course discuss the BBC hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.”
A No 10 spokesman said: “Ukraine’s victory in the Eurovision song contest was richly deserved and as the rightful winner the Government’s firm wish has been to see next year’s contest hosted there. If the EBU decides the competition can’t go ahead in Ukraine, we would of course welcome the opportunity to work closely with Ukraine and the BBC to host it here in the UK.
“But we would be committed to ensuring it overwhelmingly reflects Ukraine’s rich culture, heritage and creativity, as well as building on the ongoing partnership between our two countries.” Asked if the Government would help the BBC with the costs, the spokesman said: “We’re slightly getting ahead of ourselves in terms of the process.”
Ryder topped the jury vote in Turin in May. But Kalush Orchestra went on to win overall with 631 points when the public vote was taken into consideration.
The UK has hosted the contest eight times so far. It has taken place in London on four occasions (1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977), and once in Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974), Harrogate (1982) and Birmingham (1998).
