Liverpool will host #Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine…and it’s gonna be proper boss

Find out all about Liverpool 2023 right here: https://t.co/a1zGojGfbr pic.twitter.com/7sZ7SaYjg2

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) October 7, 2022

Popular British talk show host Graham Norton made the announcement on Friday 7th October 2022, whilst appearing on The One Show; the host of Eurovision stated, “The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is Liverpool“. Norton went on to praise Eurovision 2022 contestant Sam Ryder for abolishing “the curse of Eurovision” for Britain. The 59-year-old presenter then urged viewers to tune in and stated, “pop that in your calendar”.

As per Eurovision tradition, the previous year’s winning country is responsible for the following year’s hosting duties. At the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, Ukraine’s entry Kalush Orchestra was announced as the winner at the ceremony held in Italy’s Turin. However, due to recent conflict and issues that have arisen in Ukraine, the event and producers from the Europen Broadcasting Union made a decision that it would not be safe to hold the event in Ukraine.

A statement issued by the group states,  “We are very pleased that next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool. Though we haven’t had the privilege of visiting yet, the musical heritage of the city is known all over the world. Playing in the same place that The Beatles started out will be a moment we’ll never forget! Although we are sad that next year’s competition cannot take place in our homeland, we know that the people of Liverpool will be warm hosts and the organisers will be able to add a real Ukrainian flavour to Eurovision 2023 in this city.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has also given a statement, “While we came up against stiff competition from Glasgow, who deserve more than the nil points they have received on this occasion, nowhere is more experienced or qualified, and nowhere throws a party quite like we do. We want to put on a show that Ukraine would be proud of, and we have been working closely with Liverpool’s sister city of Odesa to ensure that this is their event as much as our own.“

He continues, “Now the hard work begins. Putting on a show that will give millions a night they will never forget in one of the most turbulent and trying years for our continent is no mean feat. If anywhere is capable of it, it is the Liverpool City Region, with a little help from our friends in Ukraine.”

Although the country is unable to host the event, Ukraine’s involvement in the 2023 contest will still be honoured, an official logo for the 67th year of Eurovision has been released to celebrate the country. Whilst the confirmation of Liverpool’s hosting duties was announced, the new logo design was also released. The new image features Ukraine’s flag encased within a heart; the new logo shows that although the UK will host The Eurovision Song Contest 2023, it will be hosting the event on behalf of Ukraine.

Speaking on the new logo and its meaning, the head of Managing board of UA: PBC, Ukraine’s public broadcaster Mykola Chernotytskyi, has stated, “It is symbolic that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, a twin city of Odesa. The organisation of a contest of this level sets super demanding requirements. I am confident that the city recognised as the capital of pop music will meet them in the best way and will deliver the celebration of music that will amaze both delegations and fans of Eurovision.“

In an interview with BBC News, Ryder said he used an “old-fashioned mailing list situation,” and “sent out an email saying ‘hey do you wanna come and sing with us?” Fans could sign up via a link to get an invite to join Sam and his team. “A bunch of people came down,” he said “we just sang the song over and over again. I think I sang it about 50 times today.”

His two singles are the first released from his upcoming album There’s Nothing But Space, Man! which is set to be released on 14th October. ‘Somebody‘ is co-written by Sam with Jon Green and Max Wolfgang who also co-wrote Sam’s Eurovision 2022 entry. “I didn’t really know that I was making the album,” he told NME, “Last year, I wrote about 100 songs, and not all of them are good, it’s just the nature of writing songs.” “Some of my favourites we’ve put together for an album. It’s done, you’re just curating the thing. You’ve got this collection of work and you’re putting it together now, and then making the final touches and then listening back to ones and going, ‘God, that line’s a shocker, I’ll have to change that next week’.”

Sam’s success at Eurovision means the UK is set to host the 2023 edition of the contest. “It’s really exciting that it’s on home soil,” he told the BBC, “but it’s also really important to remember why it’s being held here and the responsibility that we have to throw the best party that shows off and celebrates all of the beauty and rich history of Ukrainian culture.”