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Eurovision 2023: Guest artists of the Grand Final revealed!

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Today the BBC has confirmed the line-up of the guest stars in the Grand Final. Last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra, runner up Sam Ryder, and established Eurovision icons – joining the 26 acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on May 13.

The Grand Final for this year’s Contest will open with last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra and a powerful performance titled ‘Voices of a New Generation’. Kalush Orchestra captured the hearts of Eurovision viewers around the world last year – they’re back to kick off the 2023 Grand Final with a performance that’s sure to be unforgettable including their smash hit winning song Stefania.

During the Eurovision Flag Parade of all 26 Grand Finalists, viewers will be treated to a unique performance by some iconic past Ukrainian Eurovision contestants. GO_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka take to the stage and remind us their Eurovision entries.

For the first interval performance, during which voting across Europe and the world takes place, the UK’s very own spaceman Sam Ryder will make his triumphant return to the Eurovision stage after leading the UK’s biggest success in last year’s Contest for over two decades.

The final interval act “The Liverpool Songbook”, is a celebration of the host city’s incredible contribution to the world of pop music. The BBC have brought together six iconic past Eurovision acts – Italy’s Mahmood, Israel’s Netta, Iceland’s Daði Freyr, Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs, Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands – plus Liverpool’s very own Sonia, celebrating 30 years since she came second at Eurovision in 1993.

Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted, says: “What a way to bring in the winner of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. These live performances, with their twists on iconic Eurovision moments and countless creative collaborations, will ensure that we’re in for an utterly unforgettable Grand Final!”

Eurovision 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra say: “We’ve been looking forward to performing in Liverpool ever since it was announced as host last year. The city has a world-renowned musical heritage and we’re delighted to finally be able to announce what an honour it will be for us to be there.

“While we’re sad that we couldn’t bring the Eurovision Song Contest back to our home country, we’re really grateful to the UK for hosting this party on our behalf. We will perform for everyone in Ukraine to remind us that better days and our country’s victory is ahead, as well as to show the world what Ukraine is fighting for.”

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: BBC

Greece: Victor Vernicos covers Alexander Rybak and Amanda Tenfjord!

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Last Thursday, the Greek national broadcaster ERT hosted a meet-and-greet event where we got the chance to meet Victor Vernicos. Victor performed “What They Say“ live for the first time in front of an audience but also performed two of his all-time favourite Eurovision entries! You can watch his versions of “Die Together” and “Fairytale” at the videos below:

Die Together – Amanda Tenfjord

Fairytale – Alexander Rybak

Watch Victor perform “What They Say” live, for the first time in front of audience down on the video below:

Victor is competing eighth at Second Semi-Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, in May 11, 2023.

You can watch the reaction of the editors of Eurovisionfun, reacting and commenting on the Greek entry for Eurovision 2023 below:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Greek participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Eurovision 2023: Eurovision Village ticket prices have been announced!

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For the first time, it has been decided that access to the Eurovision Village to watch the Grand Final will not be free of charge, in order to manage the number of viewers.

It has been announced that a ticket to watch the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final live on the Liverpool waterfront will cost £15.

On all other days that the Eurovision Village is open, from 5 to 12 May, access will be free of charge and ticket-free. More details will be announced in mid-April.

The Eurovision Village will be located in Pier Head, a district close to the arena and the city centre, and will have a capacity of 25,000 people, who will watch the contest live on the iconic Mersey River waterfront. Pier Head was the departure point for Trans-Oceanic liners to cities such as Boston, New York and Cape Town.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Source: Visit Liverpool

Eurovision 2023: The Semi-final allocation pots!

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The Semi-Final Allocation Draw 2023 will take place on Tuesday 31 January at 20:00 CET live from Liverpool, alongside a ceremony which sees the Host City insignia pass from previous hosts Turin to Liverpool.

The draw will be hosted by AJ Odudu and Rylan and fans will be able to watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel (or on BBC TWO or BBC iPlayer if you’re in the United Kingdom).

The Allocation Draw will determine whether countries participate in the First Semi-Final (Tuesday 9 May at 21:00 CEST) or the Second Semi-Final (Thursday 11 May at 21:00 CEST). Also randomly allocated is whether a country will perform in the first or second half of the Semi-Final they’ve drawn.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw: How does it work?

The United Kingdom and Ukraine, as the Host Country and reigning champion respectively, along with the other 4 members of the so-called ‘Big 5’ participating countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) do not compete in the Semi-Finals but their domestic audiences do get to vote in one of them… so before the competing countries are allocated a place in a Semi-Final, it will be randomly determined which of the Semi-Finals the Big 5 will each be allowed to vote on.

The next part of the draw will determine in which Semi-Final and in which half of the respective Semi-Final the other 31 participating countries will perform in.

Semi-Final Allocation Pots 2023

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Albania
Austria
Switzerland
Croatia
Serbia
Slovenia

Denmark
Australia
Finland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Estonia

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Israel
Latvia
Lithuania

Pot 4

Pot 5

Pot 6
Cyprus
Greece
Ireland
Malta
Portugal
San Marino

Belgium
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Moldova
Poland
Romania

France
Italy
Germany
Spain
United Kingdom
Ukraine

 
Drawing countries from different pots helps to reduce the chance of so-called neighbourly voting and increases suspense in the Semi-Finals. You can get a good idea of how it will all work by watching the 2022 Allocation Draw on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place on 9, 11 and 13 May 2023 in Liverpool, the United Kingdom, on behalf of Ukraine who won the Contest thanks to Kalush Orchestra winning in 2022.

Source: Eurovision.tv

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

United Kingdom: The BBC ready to take over the organization for Eurovision 2024!

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In the latest episode of the Euro Trip podcast, Eurovision 2023 executive producer Andrew Cartmell was a guest.

The producer of this year’s contest spoke about the preparations for the event which will take place in May in Liverpool, the plans for the selection of the next participation of the United Kingdom, but also the intention to undertake the event again for 2024!

“We are now in the production phase of the three live shows. The most important thing – regardless of the final result – is the quality of the performance and the song.

Of course we would like to get along. It would be amazing to be in the top ten or top five, why not win? We have to do this every year. We have to go in wanting to win. Nobody says, ‘Don’t win it, you can’t host it twice.”

The 67th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool and more specifically at the M&S Bank Arena.

The first Semi-Final will be played on Tuesday 9 May, the second Semi-Final on Thursday 11 May and the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ0hqX_92zI

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates in Eurovision 2023!

Source: eurotrippodcast.com

Eurovision 2023: BBC revealed the production team of the Contest!

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The BBC, United Kingdom’s public broadcaster, which is going to organize the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, revealed the whole production team of the contest!

The team is consisted of:

  • Martin Green CBE

Martbin will lead a team to create, plan and deliver this large-scale, complex and special event. As host broadcaster the BBC will work in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union,  Liverpool as host city and other external partners to deliver The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 to an audience of over one hundred million across the world, involving thousands of people, hundreds of delegates and multiple acts.  Green has over twenty years of experience in major global events, most recently he was the Chief Creative Officer of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (where he delivered the opening and closing ceremonies and a major cultural programme), and Chief Creative Officer of Unboxed 2022. Prior to that Martin was CEO of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, a ground-breaking world class arts festival that reinvigorated the city; as well as Head of Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  • Rachel Ashdown

Rachel has been confirmed as the Lead Commissioner for the BBC on Eurovision 2023. She will work with BBC Studios, who will produce the three live shows, on the overall look and tone of the show and is responsible for commissioning other programming to run across the BBC and work with the independent production companies on their delivery. This will include the Allocation Draw and other Eurovision Song Contest based shows in the weeks leading up to the event. Rachel has been the Commissioner for all Eurovision Song Contest coverage on the BBC since 2018 and she subsequently joined the Reference Group, the Eurovision Song Contest governing body, for the 2019 – 2021 editions.

  • Andrew Cartmell

Leading the BBC Studios team is Andrew Cartmell – appointed Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, and taking overall responsibility for the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final. Andrew has more than a decade’s experience as an Executive Producer making entertainment shows and large scale live events for the likes of BBC Studios, Done & Dusted, and Hungry Bear Media. He was the Head of Delegation for the United Kingdom in Turin earlier this year. Past credits include the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, Children in Need & Sport Relief.

  • Lee Smithurst

Lee Smithurst joins the BBC Studios team as Head of Show for Eurovision 2023. As Head of Show he will be responsible for the editorial content and take the creative lead for the three live shows. Lee was Assistant Head of Delegation for the United Kingdom in Turin this year, and will be Executive Producer and Head of Delegation for the United Kingdom at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Yerevan in December. Lee’s recent credits include I Can See Your Voice, Kylie Minogue’s Secret Night and Soccer Aid.

  • Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen

Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen makes a very welcome return, who has been re-appointed as Head of Contest, the role he successfully delivered at both the 2021 & 2022 Eurovision Song Contests in Rotterdam and Turin. Twan will have specific responsibility working with the national delegations to deliver the creative, on stage ambitions of their artists. Twan is a hugely experienced television producer in the Netherlands, and has been Editor in Chief on many programmes and live events.

  • James O’ Brien

Finally, James O’ Brien joins BBC Studios as the Executive in Charge of Production. James comes to Eurovision with huge experience working on large scale events such as MTV Europe Music Awards, the London 2012 Olympics and this year’s Commonwealth Games. James will oversee a team that is responsible for the technical delivery of both the Eurovision live shows and broadcast, and all other elements within the venue precinct.

We remind you that the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place in Liverpool. The semi-finals will take place in May 9 and May 11 and the Grand Final on May 13th, live from Liverpool Arena.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Source: eurovision.tv

EXCLUSIVE | Bulgaria and Montenegro will not participate in Eurovision 2023!

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We can exclusively reveal that both Bulgaria and Montenegro will not take part in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, that is set to take place in Liverpool, in May.

The main reason behind RTCG’s (Radio and Television of Montenegro) decision not to participate seems to be the latter’s financial difficulties. It is not the first time that RTCG has withdrawn from ESC due to financial difficulties. They did so in 2010, 2011, 2020 (RTCG announced that it would not participate before the Contest was cancelled due to Covid-19), and 2021.

The BNT’s (Bulgarian National Television) decision not enter the Contest seems to be the result of both BNT’s financial difficulties and the political uncertainty in the country. Bulgaria did not enter the Contest in 2014 and 2015 for similar reasons.

As of this time, only the following 34 countries have publicly confirmed their intentions to participate in the 2023 ESC:

Semi-finals (28 countries)

Albania
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Georgia
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland

Final (Big Five & Ukraine)

France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Ukraine
United Kingdom

Countries that took part in ESC 2022 but have not expressed any intention about ESC 2023

Armenia
Czech Republic
Moldova
North Macedonia

If the above four countries do not enter the Contest, ESC 2023 is set to become the ESC edition with the fewer participants since 2003. Semi-final(s) format was introduced in 2004 with just one semi-final, and was replaced with the two semi-finals’ setting in 2008 and onwards.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the details about the upcoming ESC!

United Kingdom: The BBC’s intervention on the extremely high prices of accommodation in Liverpool!

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Organisers of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest have warned visitors not to book accommodation at over-inflated prices during the event.

Liverpool was announced on Friday as the host of May’s competition. Shortly after, accommodation was being advertised from £450 to £8,000 a night. Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, said details of other options would be released later this week. He added they may “involve cruise ships or a campsite”.

Many of the city’s rooms have already been booked, with the cheapest option on the night of the 13 May Eurovision final now priced at £1,000 on the Booking.com website.

M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool

One house is being advertised at just under £8,000 for the same night. Mr Brown said:

“Organisers were naturally disappointed that some had decided to try to profiteer from Liverpool’s staging of the event. We would certainly say to anybody that received those prices not to book them, he said.”

Some people who had booked accommodation before Friday’s announcement – in some cases months before – reported their reservations had been cancelled, before the rooms were then relisted at much higher prices. Eurovision fans said price gouging was not unusual among some accommodation providers immediately after the announcements of host cities.

Finally, Chris Brown added:

“Organisers would be addressing those who we feel are behaving in a way that we would say is not in the spirit or ethos of why Liverpool went into Eurovision. Also, a number of rooms had already been allocated for artists and broadcasters at rates that were acceptable to Eurovision as part of the bidding process. Options could also include accommodation in Manchester and Cheshire, which are within an hour’s off-peak commute from Liverpool”

The city was selected to stage the contest after this year’s winner Ukraine was considered unsafe, due to the Russian invasion. The United Kingdom was chosen to host the event after its entrant Sam Ryder came second.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Source: bbc.com

Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra reacts to Liverpool hosting Eurovision 2023!

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On Friday during “The One Show” on BBC, it was announced that Liverpool will host Eurovision 2023, on behalf of Ukraine. Kalush Orchestra, the winners of Eurovision 2022, released a statement reacting to the host city announcement:

“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.”

Eurovision 2023 will take place at M&S Bank Arena during the following dates:

Semi-Final 1: 9 May 2023

Semi-Final 2: 11 May 2023

Grand Final: 13 May 2023

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Breaking News: Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool on May 9th, 11th and 13th!

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The decision has been made. Just a while ago the BBC and the EBU announced that the 67th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool and to be exact, in M&S Bank Arena, where major events take place!

Dates

Eurovision 2023 dates were also announced:

Semi-Final 1: Tuesday May 9th

Semi-Final 2: Thursday May 11th

Grand Final: Saturday May 13th

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