The BBC officially revealed the shortlist of seven cities that are in contention to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. One of the cities that made it to the next round of bidding is Leeds, located in the heart of West Yorkshire. If selected, Eurovision would return to the north of England for the first time since 1982. That year, the contest was held in Harrogate following Bucks Fizz’s win in Dublin 1981.
Leeds had already expressed interest in hosting the contest back in June, and Leeds City Council confirmed their intent to bid earlier this week. In this video, Helen gives us a quick tour of Leeds – from the First Direct Arena (which would host the live shows) to the Leeds Dock and everything in between. She also explains the some of logistical advantages that Leeds has to offer as the gateway to Yorkshire!
Check Out Helen’s Tour of Leeds Here!
Be sure to check out our previous tours of Manchester and Glasgow.
The United Kingdom’s Eurovision Journey
Despite a recent slump in results, the UK is one of the most successful countries at the Eurovision Song Contest. Debuting at the second edition ever of the Contest in 1957, the United Kingdom has won the competition on five separate occasions. The most recent win for the UK was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, singing โLove Shine A Lightโ. The UK also holds the record for the number of second place finishes โ currently at 16.
In 2022, the UK was represented by Sam Ryder with his song โSPACE MANโ. The performance managed to impress juries and televoters, and the UK finished in second place with 466 points, their best placing since 1998.
What do you think of Leeds’s bid to host Eurovision in 2023? What else do you think Leeds has to offer as a host city? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Source: That Eurovision Site
