Eurovision 2023 - BBC

[Newshound47]

The Prime Minster is in Kyiv at the moment so I wonder if we could get a Government statement today.

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The idea it'll be a mostly Ukrainian audience is ridiculous, I imagine most people who go to the Eurovision final are there from other countries.

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Graham to host, Iain Stirling to commentate?

I'll get my coat!

'Now we HAVE the entry from ITALY!!!'

Well it’s what everyone is saying on Social Media. That the audience must have at the bare minimum more Ukrainians than Brits. I don’t think just reserving a section will cut it.

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https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1...1310272514

Ukraine rejects having the contest removed from them. Could get very awkward for the EBU. I hope it doesn’t end with Ukraine withdrawing.

[IanJRedman]

https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1...1310272514

Ukraine rejects having the contest removed from them. Could get very awkward for the EBU. I hope it doesn’t end with Ukraine withdrawing.

It's blindingly obvious they can't host it there. Bizarre.

[Newshound47]

https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1...1310272514

Ukraine rejects having the contest removed from them. Could get very awkward for the EBU. I hope it doesn’t end with Ukraine withdrawing.

It's blindingly obvious they can't host it there. Bizarre.

It’s a difficult issue. Admitting the war will likely in some capacity still be going on is not something the Ukrainian Government can do.

Will the (UK) Government want to encourage the BBC to host when the Ukrainians feel it’s been stolen from them?

[Inspector Sands]

It really is a different beast to what it was in 1998 though. 

It really is. It was held in a big arena like today, but in production terms it was very different, more like a BBC Light Entertainment production. It looks very quaint and insular now, little Woganesque in-jokes about the BBC won't hack it in 2023.

[XIII]

Well it’s what everyone is saying on Social Media. That the audience must have at the bare minimum more Ukrainians than Brits. I don’t think just reserving a section will cut it.

https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1...1310272514

Ukraine rejects having the contest removed from them. Could get very awkward for the EBU. I hope it doesn’t end with Ukraine withdrawing.

Social media isn't the real world, stop assuming it is.

[Roger Darthwell]

It's blindingly obvious they can't host it there. Bizarre.

It’s a difficult issue. Admitting the war will likely in some capacity still be going on is not something the Ukrainian Government can do.

Will the (UK) Government want to encourage the BBC to host when the Ukrainians feel it’s been stolen from them?

Bear in mind that Boris Johnson is in Ukraine right now as I write........

[Inspector Sands]

It’s a difficult issue. Admitting the war will likely in some capacity still be going on is not something the Ukrainian Government can do.

Will the (UK) Government want to encourage the BBC to host when the Ukrainians feel it’s been stolen from them?

The thing that is they won the contest, that can't be taken away from them. Hosting the following years isn't the prize it's just a consequence of winning. 

It is fairly obvious that it can't be held in Ukraine and when that scenario happens another broadcaster hosts it. Its unfortunate but its just one of those things

[JAS84]

And that broadcaster is usually the runner up, which in this case was the BBC, hence us potentially hosting it.

[TIGHazard]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61841068

BBC article states that

Ukrainian broadcaster AU: PBC said it was "disappointed with this decision".

"Reacting to the EBU's decision, Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA: PBC, said: "During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfil the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country," he said.

"Security is, of course, our first priority. The team of UA: PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options."

He added: "It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations."

[natashajacobs]

So excited that Eurovision will, in any likelihood, be coming to our shores. I think they’ll have Graham host with Rylan/Scott on commentary for all the shows.

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Surely Manc, Glasgow and Brum are front runners with international connectivity whilst being small enough to create an atmosphere around the contest. Eurovision in London would struggle to capture the vibe I feel.

[Brekkie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61841068

BBC article states that

Ukrainian broadcaster AU: PBC said it was "disappointed with this decision".

"Reacting to the EBU's decision, Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA: PBC, said: "During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfil the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country," he said.

"Security is, of course, our first priority. The team of UA: PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options."

He added: "It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations."

Eurovision have quite rightly, however coldly it may appear, put Eurovision first, and have gone through the process set out in their rule book of giving the winners the usual time frame to show they can put on a show safely, and followed their rule book on where the contest would go in the event the winner can't host.   Yes, it feels a bit quick but every week they wait compromise next years event further, so in these situations I think the best thing to do is to follow process - it may result in a bit of short term criticism but long term it's the only thing to do.

[Markymark]

It’s a difficult issue. Admitting the war will likely in some capacity still be going on is not something the Ukrainian Government can do.

Will the (UK) Government want to encourage the BBC to host when the Ukrainians feel it’s been stolen from them?

The thing that is they won the contest, that can't be taken away from them. Hosting the following years isn't the prize it's just a consequence of winning. 

It is fairly obvious that it can't be held in Ukraine and when that scenario happens another broadcaster hosts it. Its unfortunate but its just one of those things

My thoughts. As many Ukrainian broadcasting performers and professionals as possible should be involved in the production, on both sides of the camera. With it resourced and guided by the BBC and UK broadcast facility suppliers, and with the UK's general top drawer reputation for TV production, it could be the best solution for all

[natashajacobs]

The thing that is they won the contest, that can't be taken away from them. Hosting the following years isn't the prize it's just a consequence of winning. 

It is fairly obvious that it can't be held in Ukraine and when that scenario happens another broadcaster hosts it. Its unfortunate but its just one of those things

My thoughts. As many Ukrainian broadcasting performers and professionals as possible should be involved in the production, on both sides of the camera. With it resourced and guided by the BBC and UK broadcast facility suppliers, and with the UK's general top drawer reputation for TV production, it could be the best solution for all

Might be tricky considering men are banned from leaving the country and have to fight in the war. Kalush got special dispensation, I doubt they will be able to do as you have suggested. Don’t get me wrong though, I agree it would be the right thing to do if possible

[Inspector Sands]

I'd be interested to know what the different options they came up with in terms of security are. No-one can predict what the situation will be in a month let alone next May, no security plan can make everyone in the auditorium safe from an air raid.

BBC staff going to Ukraine currently need hostile environment training, it's a war zone, not somewhere to host a singing competition

[Stuart]

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.