Great Britain will host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in place of this year’s winner Ukraine, it was reported on Monday.
The UK will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year instead of Ukraine. The European Broadcasting Union and the BBC announced this on Monday.
The British contribution came in second place in this year’s ESC.
Contest organizer European Broadcasting Union (EBU) already announced in mid-June that Ukrainian broadcaster UA would not be able to provide the necessary “safety and operational guarantees”. Nevertheless, he announced talks with the BBC as an alternate host.
Ukraine initially wanted to host the event.
The Ukrainian government initially opposed the decision, but raised objections against granite. According to the EBU, Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC has now agreed that Britain will host an ESC steeped in “Ukrainian spirit”.
“The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be held in Ukraine, but in support of Ukraine,” UA:PBC chief Mykola Chernotsky said in a joint statement with the EBU and the BBC. “We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us,” he said. It is not yet decided which city will be the host.
Thanks to the excellent support from the audience, the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won the ESC Finals in mid-May with their song “Stefania”. Jury favorite Briton Sam Ryder finished second. Germany came last. The Kalash Orchestra’s victory was a much-needed impetus for beleaguered Ukraine.
