Jamala: “It would be “fair” for the UK to host Eurovision 2023”

Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala has backed Eurovision 2023 being hosted in the United Kingdom, if the contest cannot be held in Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian singer, who triumphed with her song “1944”, said that the EBU’s decision to not hold next year’s contest in Ukraine is “premature” and “very painful”.

In an interview with PA News, Jamala said that the United Kingdom would be “fair” hosts of Eurovision 2023 after Sam Ryder finished runner-up at this year’s contest. His entry “Space Man” brought home the UK’s best result in the contest since 1998. Jamala even added her praises for Sam Ryder, saying that his entry was “really, really, really good”.

“Great Britain came second in the competition, so if Ukraine is unwilling to host the event for whatever reason, it would be fair to hold it in one of your cities [in the UK]”

The 2016 Eurovision winner did also add that the decision by the EBU that Eurovision 2023 cannot be held in Ukraine was “sad” and “very painful”. However, Jamala said that she understands that the contest must be held in a safe location for all delegates and fans.

“It’s really sad the EBU decided to take away all this chance and all this hope, but I really understand that it has to be in a peaceful place for participants and for everybody.”

Ukraine won the right to host the contest after Kalush Orchestra’s win in Turin with “Stefania”, but The UK has been offered the chance to host Eurovision in 2023 after the song contest’s organisers concluded that Ukraine is not capable of hosting it, a decision that has angered the nation’s government, which says it still wants to hold the event.