Preparations for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool are underway, the city will be hosting the contest in May at M&S Bank Arena Liverpool. This week a delegation from the host broadcaster BBC visited next year’s venue.
Coming Alive
The team from the host broadcaster comprised of Tim Davie, the Director General of the BBC and Kate Phillips, director of unscripted for the BBC, while visiting the Eurovision 2023 venue met with Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool and Steve Rotheram, city region metro mayor.
While in Liverpool Tim Davie has been speaking about the upcoming contest.
“I’m not going to give you too much because we’ve got a bit of work to do, but I think what you’ll see is a couple of things, one is the city itself coming alive.
This isn’t just about one event, of course we’ve got the semi-finals and all the things that are going on around it, but I think you’ll see a city come to life which is really inspiring.
“I think you’ll see a kind of festival atmosphere across the period.”
Remarking on taking on the hosting of the contest on behalf of Ukraine, he said.
“One thing I would say is we’re doing this on behalf of Ukraine so it will absolutely be a programme and a show and a whole host of events where Ukraine and Liverpool are really in this together.”
Speaking about the choice of Liverpool as the host city, time said.
“I think more than anything they want to put on a world-class event and bring more people close to Liverpool but also, for everyone in this region, to give them the party of their lives and then show that to millions, tens of millions of people across the world.”
“When you look at a bid you look across is the venue perfect, has the city got real commitment, has it got the legacy events in place, school programmes, all the things that go around a winning bid, and has it got fantastic people,”
When speaking about financing the contest, Tim said that the final budget was still being worked on but he feels the contest is really good value for money and that the contest is going to bring money into the city.
Choosing Liverpool
While in Liverpool, Tim also appeared on local radio where he was asked about the contest and why Liverpool was chosen to host.
Eurovision Song Contest 2023
After Ukraine won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, it was revealed that Ukraine will not host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The hosting duties were then passed to the runners-up; the United Kingdom. Liverpool will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on the 9th, 11th, and 13th of May 2023. The contest will take place at the M&S Arena.
To find out more about the host city, check out Rory’s video tour below.
Are you excited about Liverpool hosting Eurovision 2023? Do you think Tim Davie is right in his thoughts about Liverpool and Eurovision? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , and TikTok as we prepare for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: PA News Agency
Photo Credit: M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
