Eurovision 2023 hosts announced as BGT and Ted Lasso stars – and Ukrainian pop star
ALESHA Dixon, Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina are set to join Graham Norton hosting the Eurovision Song Contest this year.
The star-studded line-up was announced today ahead of the competition, which will broadcast live from Liverpool in May.
Zoe Ball, 52, broke the news today on her radio show, saying: "Last time the Eurovision was in the UK back in 1998 hosted by our dear Sir Terry Wogan and Ulrika Johnson, last year in Turin of course Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika, in those fabulous bright suits.
"On the TV hosting the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool will be Alesha Dixon, the Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, the award-winning actress from Ted Lasso and Games Of Thrones Hannah Waddingham and someone you may well know, Mr Graham Norton.
"While Graham is on the TV because he'll be doing the presenting, he will have a little bit of help from the commentary box - Mel Giedroyc will be there as well, on hand to be his glamorous assistant.
"Alesha, Julia and Hannah will also be presenting the semi-finals."
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Julia, who fronts Ukrainian alternative rock band The Hardkiss, was chosen by the public to sit on the professional jury to select Ukraine's 2023 Eurovision entry alongside 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala and Taras Topolia from the band Antytila.
Ukraine cannot host Eurovision 2023 because of the crisis they're in, which is why it will be held in the UK, who finished runners-up thanks to Sam Ryder.
A total of 37 countries are set to take part in Eurovision this year, with Ukraine automatically qualifying as 2022 winners as well as the so-called "big five" - the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain - who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.
The 15 countries who will be performing in the first semi-final on May 9 include Ireland, Serbia, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, Sweden, Moldova, Switzerland, Israel, the Netherlands, Finland, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic.
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Meanwhile, semi-final two on May 11 will see Armenia, Cyprus, Romania, Denmark, Belgium, Iceland, Greece, Estonia, Albania, Australia, Austria, Lithuania, San Marino, Slovenia, Georgia and Poland go head-to-head.
