Sunetra Sarker made a "new best friend" in Rylan Clark as they kicked off the Eurovision Song Contest.
The former Brookside star, from Liverpool, brought viewers the highlights from National Lottery's Big Eurovision Welcome on Sunday outside St George's Hall, hosted by AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett.
As a Eurovision fan who grew up watching the song contest in the 70s and 80s, Sunetra said: "It's amazing to be part of Eurovision history."
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The 49-year-old actress told the ECHO: "When I got the call for Eurovision asking if I'd like to present with Rylan I honestly thought they'd made a mistake. I said 'are you sure?'
"If ever there was a time when you want to see the most, unusual sport let's say, bringing Liverpool together, it's the sport of music coming to Liverpool. It's more than just a concert. I keep referring to it as a smaller Olympics - It's got that vibe.
"That level of pride for the country, for the city, for the context. There is some magic in here."
Sunetra said: "There's Eurovision fans all over the world, but in Liverpool I can feel the hardcore Eurovision fans but also everything...that diversity, the culture of Eurovision coming to Liverpool.
"I had to be the best version of me for Eurovision because you only get one go."
Sunetra admitted she was nervous at last night's event, but said Rylan was on hand to help. She said: "He's my new best friend. He held my hand so tightly.
"He knew I was new to this. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to do something like this with."
Speaking of the standard of Eurovision in the UK this year, Sunetra said: "I feel like there will be people watching on Saturday who haven't watched Eurovision in absolutely years.
"I think they might be pleasantly surprised by the standard of performance, the standard of exhibition, the standard of confidence.
"There was just joy going around Liverpool yesterday, and even the naysayers who don't particularly love Eurovision, I don't think even they can deny that this is such a good thing.
"At this time as well with what's going on in the political landscape etc. This has just been the boost we needed on the back of the Coronation."
Eurovision Welcomes the World, 18:30, BBC One
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