The Latest Breaking News from Kalush Orchestra

Other UK cities have ambitious bids in place as Belfast City Council chiefs crunch the numbers to present to councillors in a report

The singer said that, while it would have been ‘symbolic’ for Ukraine to host the contest, Britain is the ‘rational’ option.

The bidding process will begin this week

Officials approached the U.K., this year's runner-up, after concluding that Russia's war makes Ukraine unfit to hold the competition. This isn't the first time the U.K. has stepped in to host.

Britain said Monday it had agreed to host next year's Eurovision song contest, after organisers said there was no prospect of the event going ahead in Ukraine, which is engaged in a war with neighbouring Russia. Kyiv has welcomed the decision.

The search for a host city will start later this week.

Britain will host next year's Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of winners Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict there, the competition's organisers said on Monday.

BBC says programme will have ‘glorious Ukraine at its heart’, with cities invited to bid to host event

Ukrainian winner of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest Jamala said it is ‘painful’ that Ukraine will not be able to host next year’s event.