The UK will host the Eurovision song contest next year after Ukraine’s public broadcaster dropped its objections and agreed to work with the BBC on the event.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the contest this year and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the next year’s Eurovision will be organized in Mariupol. However, organizers concluded this could not be done safely amid the Ukrainian-Russian war.
Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has previously noted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event, should “consider how to change the rules of Eurovision for the country that is fighting for independence and democracy.”
In a compromise, the UK will host next year’s contest but produce a program that – in the words of the BBC – has “glorious Ukraine at its heart”.
“The show will celebrate the culture and heritage of Ukraine as the winners of the 2022 contest, alongside Eurovision’s proud tradition of celebrating persity through music,” said a BBC spokesperson.
On his part, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson noted that he agreed with Zelenskyy that Eurovision 2023 must celebrate Ukraine and its people o matter where it will be held.
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1551525728306581504
No 10 indicated that it had appealed to the EBU for a “safe city” in Ukraine to host the contest and that it was “deeply regrettable” that it had become clear that would not be possible.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the BBC and UK would “pull out all the stops” to make sure the event celebrates and honors Ukraine and encouraged viewers to stock up on Ukrainian flags.
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