Eurovision 2023 - BBC

[telebox2001]

Of course it's very sad that the EBU believe Ukraine are not in a position to host next year.

However, the UK has stepped in previously. The BBC website reports that they " ... hosted for the Netherlands in 1960, for France in 1963, for Monaco in 1972, and Luxembourg in 1974."

The BBC are more than capable of producing an amazing event, but it needs to be very clear that it's on behalf of Ukraine, not instead of them. 

That could be signalled by even using the Ukrainian flag in the    element of the Eurovision logo, or a combination of the UK/Ukranian flags.

I've seen a few mocks where the heart is half Union Jack, half Ukraine, with the host city in the Cyrillic alphabet underneath the Latin version.  I imagine that will be what we end up with.

It has to have a bit of British - some people on socials have suggested interval acts could include Lucie Jones, who flew the flag for the UK at the last Ukranian show; a special performance of Never Give Up On You would certainly strike an emotional chord.

But by the same token there's no rule that says the Kalush Orchestra, Jamala, Ruslana, Verka etc. can't all have a part to play.  By the same token I will be very surprised if Timur doesn't have a presentational role, which would him the 4th person to ever host more than once (and the first man.)

It'll be hard to get the tone right - whilst I'm not sure an SVT/Edward Af Silén style approach would read the room correctly, neither should we end up with the funeralistic vibe of Shine A Light.