As Eurovision fever continues to hit the UK the hosts have been announced for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest which is taking place in Liverpool this May. Included in the host line-up are Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina.
Hannah and Julia will join Britain's Got Talent and pop star Alesha Dixon to host the semi-finals on Tuesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 11 and Eurovision legend Graham Norton, who has hosted Eurovision for the BBC since 2009, will join them for the final on Saturday, May 13. They will be the hosts for the whole competition, which will be broadcast in the 37 countries taking part.
Hannah is an award-winning British actress and Julia is a Ukrainian singer. British actress Hannah is best known for playing Rebecca Welton in the comedy series Ted Lasso, a role which she has been in since 2020. In 2021 Hannah won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role.
She has also starred in other famous TV shows including Game of Thrones as Septa Unella and in the hit Netflix series Sex Education as Sofia Marchetti. Hannah was born in London and her mother was an opera singer, meaning Hannah grew up around theatre.
The 48-year-old has also starred in West End productions including The Wizard of Oz.
Julia Sanina will join Hannah and is a Ukrainian singer and the front woman of the Ukrainian alternative rock band The Hardkiss.
Julia has been a judge on the Ukrainian version of The X Factor and she is married to Valeriy "Val" Bebko, a creative producer and lead guitarist of The Hardkiss. Although Ukraine won Eurovision in 2022, due to the current conflict and Russian invasion the competition is being held in Liverpool as the UK came second place with Sam Ryder's Spaceman.
Julia said: "I’m so excited to showcase Ukrainian culture and creativity, and to help put on a show to make my country proud. I can’t wait to get to Liverpool and meet the fans and the rest of the Eurovision family."
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