While the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 officially got going with the first semi final on Tuesday night, don't expect to see the United Kingdom entry to the weekend. And the reason is that, once again, the UK has automatically landed a place in the final, due to being in the Big Five.
For many years now, the UK, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, has been part of the five nations who put in the most money to fund Eurovision every year. There have been semi finals for the contest every year since 2004, but the UK and none of the other four has ever had to rely on then to get a place in the final.
The UK's position in the Big Five is strengthened even more by the fact it is hosting Eurovision 2023, having taken the reins after it was ruled by the European Broadcasting Union that last year's winners, Ukraine, couldn't stage the event.
