Eurovision 2023: When was the last time the UK hosted Eurovision? Which towns and cities in the UK have hosted Eurovision in the past?

Eurovision has been held in five areas in the UK so far - including a town here in Yorkshire.

On June 17, it was announced that due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the country has had to drop out of being the host city for next year’s Eurovision.

It has been confirmed on July 25, 2022, by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that the UK will be hosting the next Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of this year’s winner Ukraine.

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Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC has previously staged the event in 2005 and 2017 and in response to the news, the EBU posted a statement thanking UA:PBC.

“The EBU would like to thank UA:PBC for their wholehearted cooperation and commitment in exploring all scenarios in the weeks since Kalush Orchestra’s win on 14 May in Turin and share their sadness and disappointment that next year’s Contest cannot be held in Ukraine,” it said.

“The EBU has been supporting UA:PBC across a whole range of areas since the invasion. We will ensure that this support continues so UA: PBC can maintain the indispensable service they provide to Ukrainians.”

Let’s take a look at the UK’s previous ties with Eurovision.

When was the last time the UK hosted Eurovision?

Singer Sam Ryder performs on behalf of The United Kingdom. (Pic credit: Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images)Singer Sam Ryder performs on behalf of The United Kingdom. (Pic credit: Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images)
Singer Sam Ryder performs on behalf of The United Kingdom. (Pic credit: Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images)
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If the UK does become the host country for next year’s Eurovision, it will be the first time since 1998.

The UK has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 64 times; it first took part in the competition in 1957 and was represented by the late conductor and BBC music presenter Eric Robinson.

The UK entered Eurovision every year since 1959 and along with Sweden and the Netherlands, the UK is one of just three countries with Eurovision victories in four decades.

It is also one of the five countries, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, that are automatically prequalified for the final each year.

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The BBC broadcasts the event and has more than once organised different national selection processes to choose the British entry.

The UK has won the show five times so far and has finished as runner-up on a record of 16 occasions.

The UK’s five winners are Sandie Shaw with the song Puppet on a String in 1957, Lulu with Boom Bang-a-Bang in 1969, Brotherhood of Man with Save Your Kisses for Me in 1976, Bucks Fizz with Making Your Mind Up in 1981 and Katrina and the Waves with Love Shine a Light in 1997.

The 16 second-place finishers were:

Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson (1959)

Bryan Johnson (1960)

The Allisons (1961)

Matt Monro (1964)

Kathy Kirkby (1975)

Cliff Richard (1968)

Mary Hopkin (1970)

The New Seekers (1972)

The Shadows (1975)

Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran (1977)

Scott Fitzgerald (1988)

Live Report (1989)

Michael Ball (1992)

Sonia (1993)

Imaani (1998)

Sam Ryder (2022)

Where in the UK has the Eurovision Song Contest been held?

The UK has hosted the contest a record eight times; four times in London (1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977) and once each in Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974), Harrogate (1982) and Birmingham (1998).

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The Eurovision Song Contest 1982 was the 27th edition of the annual competition and it took place in Harrogate following the country’s win at the 1981 contest with the song Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz.

The contest was held at the Harrogate International Centre on April 24 1982 and was presented by English TV presenter and newsreader Jan Leeming.

Will next year be the ninth time the UK hosts Eurovision? Only time will tell.

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