Charlotte Hawkins says cost of hosting Eurovision can be 'a lot'

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The Eurovision Song Contest should be hosted in Liverpool, a new poll of Express.co.uk readers has found. The 2023 competition will be held in either Liverpool or Glasgow, with a final decision due to be made “within weeks”. From the shortlist of seven cities, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds were cut from the running – applications were judged on the facilities in the city which required a 10,000-capacity venue, plentiful hotel accommodation and access to an international airport.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest said in a statement: “The Eurovision Song Contest is the most complex TV production in the world with very specific logistical requirements to accommodate around 40 delegations and thousands of crew, volunteers, press and fans. 

“We’re confident our final two cities are the best placed to meet this challenge and look forward to continuing our discussions to choose the one which will stage the world’s largest music event next May.”

The UK was chosen to host the international music competition on behalf of winners Ukraine after the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that the nation was not suitable to accommodate the contest.

The UK’s entrant Sam Ryder finished as runner-up to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra in May when the Italian city Turin hosted.

The BBC will air the competition on behalf of Ukraine’s national broadcaster, UA:PBC, yet the war-stricken country is expected to have a large influence on the production.

In a poll that ran from 11am on Wednesday, September 28, to 3pm on Thursday, September 29, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Which UK city should host Eurovision Song Contest 2023?”

Overall, 1,213 people responded with the vast majority, 73 percent (887 people) answering that “Liverpool” should be the host city.

Whereas 23 percent (285 people) voted in favour of “Glasgow” hosting, and a further three percent (41 people) said they did not know.

Readers shared their thoughts on where Eurovision should be hosted in the comments below the accompanying article.

Username davelan said: “Liverpool should get it, but the political situation with indyref 2 means that Glasgow will get it to show we are united together.”

However, there was little support for either of the final two cities with some arguing that London should have been chosen.

Username Worldwatcher said: “Neither, it should be in London.”

And username As above said: “London – people would like to have it in London, a City Most would like to visit, has ALL the Facilities at hand.”

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However, many readers commented that the UK should not be hosting the contest, with username Patricia writing: “Eurovision needs to be scrapped.”

Another, username RickGrimes said: “None, we can’t afford it!”

And username gizalik wrote: “None of them, time to bin it.”

Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson said she was “so thrilled” that the city had “moved a big step closer” to being able to host.

If Liverpool City Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s bid is successful, Eurovision would be held in the 11,000-capacity dockside M&S Bank Arena.

Ms Anderson said that hosting Eurovision “would write a brand-new chapter in our musical heritage”, be a “huge boost to the local economy” and provide a “platform to sustain jobs well into the future”. 

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said it was “unsurprising” for the city to make the final two, explaining: “There’s nowhere better qualified or more fitting to host it than here in the UK’s cultural capital.”

Glasgow was the bookies’ favourite city from the outset, with the 14,300 capacity OVO Hyro arena bidding to host.

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council said Scotland’s biggest city has “everything it takes” to host Eurovision.

She added: “The competition has been very strong but Glasgow has an unrivalled track record for successfully hosting major global events.”

The city’s arena was also featured in the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

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