The BBC has today (27 September) confirmed that two cities, Liverpool and Glasgow, remain in competition to be the host city for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

On 12 August the BBC announced that seven cities (Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield) had been shortlisted as candidate host cities. Following a detailed assessment process, these seven cities have now been reduced to two: Glasgow and Liverpool.

Further discussions will now take place with officials from Glasgow and Liverpool and a final decision will be made within weeks.

Phil Harrold, the chair of the BBC’s Host City Selection Committee, says: “Thanks to all seven cities across the UK who have demonstrated the enthusiasm and passion for Eurovision that exists right across the UK.

“We were incredibly impressed by the quality and creativity of all the city bids, in what was a highly competitive field. The Eurovision Song Contest is a very complex event and Liverpool and Glasgow have the strongest overall offer; we will continue our discussions with them to determine the eventual host city.

“We are determined to make the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest one that both reflects the winning position of Ukraine and is also an event that all of the UK can participate in.”

Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson adds: “I’m so thrilled to hear Liverpool’s hopes of hosting Eurovision have moved a big step closer!

“We all know our city is great at hosting big events – nobody throws a party like Liverpool – and the judges at Eurovision agree.

“From The Beatles, to Cream, to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – Liverpool always moves to its own beat – and hosting Eurovision would write a brand-new chapter in our musical heritage.

“In the short term however, it will be a huge boost to the local economy and will also provide a platform to sustain jobs well into the future.

“We are so proud to have the backing of our sister city in Ukraine – Odesa – and it would be a privilege to host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of them and the people of Ukraine.

“Glasgow is a great city and so I don’t envy the judges who have to decide between us, but for me there is no city anywhere in Europe which would make a more perfect home for Eurovision than Liverpool”.

The UK is hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, which won the competition this year.

The final decision on the host city of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is a matter for the BBC in conjunction with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

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