Britain said Monday it had reluctantly agreed to host next year’s Eurovision song contest, after organizers said there was no prospect of the event going ahead in war-torn Ukraine.
The BBC will instead produce the world’s biggest live music event, taking in performers from across Europe and Central Asia as well as Israel and Australia, in a U.K. city yet to be determined.
Ukraine won this year’s contest, held in Italy, ahead of Britain’s entry in second place. For the past month, it had insisted it could host next year’s despite the Russian invasion.
But after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that out on security grounds, the government in Kyiv acquiesced to a U.K.-hosted event with a strongly Ukrainian flavor.
Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that after “several rounds” of discussion, the EBU had given assurances of an “extremely high integration of Ukrainian context and presenters.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that in phone talks last week with President Volodymyr Zelensky, they “agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine.”
“As we are now hosts, the U.K. will honor that pledge directly — and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends,” Johnson tweeted.
Johnson’s spokesman added it had been the soon-to-depart prime minister’s “strong wish” for Ukraine to host the 2023 edition, and found it “deeply regrettable” that was no longer possible.
In May, Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra won in Turin, on a wave of support for their country following Russia’s invasion.
By convention, the winning country hosts the kitsch annual pop extravaganza the following year. Britain last hosted it in 1998.
Cities wait in wings
But last month, the EBU said Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of more than 10,000 people involved in the production and a further 30,000 fans expected to attend.
The broadcasting union stuck to its line despite protests from Zelensky’s government, and rejected one proposal to shift the contest to a border location within Ukraine, away from the frontlines.
The EBU said Ukraine was still guaranteed a place in the 2023 grand final along with the organization’s “top five” countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The other finalists will be selected via national votes by viewers and judges.
“It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest,” BBC director-general Tim Davie said.
“The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity,” he said.
The BBC said it would begin the search for a U.K. venue in collaboration with the EBU. Whichever city wins will need to have an international airport, a sizeable conference venue and thousands of hotel rooms.
London, Manchester and Sheffield all said they were ready to step in. Glasgow had previously expressed interest.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said the U.K. capital could mount a contest that “celebrates the people of Ukraine and shows off the very best of Britain.”
This year’s contest vaulted Britain’s second-placed entrant Sam Ryder to stardom.
Last month, before another global TV audience, Ryder performed his quirky song “Space Man” in front of Buckingham Palace as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.
