Liverpool chosen to host Eurovision

Liverpool will host next year's Eurovision Song Contest, it has been confirmed.

The DCMS decision was announced during the BBC's One Show [7 October], with Liverpool beating competition from bookmakers' favourite Glasgow, and nearly 20 other cities in the UK, to host the event.

Ukraine's entrant Kalush Orchestra won May's contest, but the country will not be able to stage the event due to the Russian invasion.

Instead, the UK will host as its entry from Sam Ryder was runner up in this year's competition.

Claire McColgan, director of Culture Liverpool, which will organise the event said the city would reflect "what Ukraine and its people deserve".

"This is a very different Eurovision, which is why were we're so excited and keen to do it… we can do the best show for Ukraine because that's who this is for," she said.

She added organisers would use "intel and insight" from Liverpool's twin city Odessa to celebrate the country's culture during the broadcasts and cultural programmes.