Newcastle joins cities battling it out to host Eurovision in the UK

Newcastle joins list of cities battling it out to host the first Eurovision song contest in the UK since 1998 after bosses decided it was not safe to hold in Ukraine

• Newcastle has announced that it will bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest
• The UK is hosting the 2023 event after Sam Ryder came second place this year
• London, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow and Aberdeen are also bidding

Newcastle is the latest city to announce it will bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, after organisers said it could not be held in war-torn Ukraine.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) gave the UK the chance to host the event for the ninth time — more than any other country —after Sam Ryder came second in the competition. 

Ukraine’s entry Kalush Orchestra triumphed at this year’s competition in Turin, Italy. 

Newcastle City Council has announced it will join a variety of cities across the country including London, Manchester and Glasgow in bidding to host the annual music competition.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative is delivering the bid on behalf of Newcastle City Council.

A choir of young Ukrainian residents performed on Newcastle quayside to support the bid for Eurovision 2023. From left, Zhanna, 17, Cabinet member for a Resilient City Cllr Alex Hay, Lyza, 12, Cabinet member for a Vibrant City, Cllr Lesley Storey and Vlada, 13

Destination director Ian Thomas said: ‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to welcome a huge number of international visitors, performers and media to the north east of England and to showcase our world-class culture, rich heritage and vibrant region to the world.

‘The potential impact of Newcastle hosting Eurovision 2023 is phenomenal.

‘Eurovision will play a significant role in rejuvenating and sustaining our visitor economy, supporting our businesses and creating an even better place for our residents.’

Mr Thomas said that other ‘large events’ have significantly boost the regional economy.

‘The European Professional Rugby Club finals attract 95,000 fans to the region which contributed £24 million to our visitor economy in 2019,’ he said.

‘World Transplant Games also in 2019 brought in attendees from over 50 countries which pushed hotel occupancy rates up by 13%, supporting the hospitality supply chain and helping to sustain jobs within the industry.

‘Eurovision will be on an even bigger scale, and we welcome this fantastic opportunity to bring this to the region.’

Councillor Alex Hay of Newcastle City Council said: ‘We are delighted to be bidding to host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine and stand in solidarity with its people.

‘We are collaborating with partners across the region to help make this a reality for Newcastle, to do Ukraine proud and to embody everything that Eurovision stands for.’

According to the BBC — which broadcasts the contest in the UK and will make the selection alongside the EBU — the winner will be chosen in a two-stage process against requirements that assess the city’s capacity and capability.

Once all the applications have been received, a shortlist will be announced on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on August 12.

Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the so-called big five nations — the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event. Pictured, the Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine celebrate winning the Eurovision Song Contest

Announcing London’s bid, Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the city is ‘ready and willing to step in’ with a contest that ‘celebrates the people of Ukraine and shows off the very best of Britain’.

Sheffield City Council was also among the first to announce a bid, saying on Twitter: ‘We’ve told Eurovision we’d love to host… watch this space.’

Leeds City Council said it makes ‘total sense’ for it to host next year as Leeds is the city of culture for 2023.

Two of Scotland’s largest cities, Glasgow and Aberdeen, have also announced they will be vying to host the contest in 2023.

Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the so-called big five nations — the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.

The host city is expected to be announced by the autumn.

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