Eurovision fever is rising across the UK and in Liverpool where the famous singing show will be held in 2023. Liverpool was announced as the host city of Eurovision in 2022, after winners Ukraine could not hold the competition for safety and security reasons due to the ongoing invasion by Russia.
This meant the UK, who came second place with Sam Ryder's performance and song Space Man, is hosting the show in 2023. You can tune into the Eurovision Song Contest: Handover Ceremony and Draw on Tuesday, January 31, at 7pm on BBC Two to see which nations will make it into the semi-final.
The Eurovision Song Contest was last held in the UK in 1998 after Katrina and the Waves' victory with Love Shine A Light the previous year. The competition was held in Birmingham and was won by Israeli singer Dana International., with UK entry Imaani coming in second place. Switzerland suffered an embarrassing "nil points" with Gunvor's song Lass Ihn.
The UK has hosted the competition eight times in total. No Welsh city has ever hosted Eurovision with UK host cities being made of London in 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977, Edinburgh in 1972, Brighton in 1974 and Harrogate in 1982. The UK made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957.
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The UK has also finished second a record 16 times and also has the record for the longest-running string of top five placings and holds the record for the longest run of consecutive appearances in the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision is set to take place in Liverpool in 2023 on Tuesday, May 9, Thursday, May 11 and Saturday, May 13.
Currently Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford is tipped to be representing the UK at Eurovision. A source close to the Eurovision team involved in selecting the Brit candidates has revealed: “Molly has all of the attributes to be a great act for the UK. She has a fantastic voice and she has a huge fan base. She is a real performer and has worked her way into the show business industry through hard graft.”
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