Having just hosted the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham is one of the cities shortlisted to be the next Eurovision venue, but are they up to the challenge? reports Rishi Davda Scott Mills joined Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 Breakfast to announce that Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield had been shortlisted as potential host cities. Twenty cities had expressed interest in hosting the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, and those not shortlisted include London and Belfast. After the announcement, Mills said: “It’s huge, it’s a beast and it’s complicated as an event to pull off. “But it is also the cities that have the passion to organize such a competition, because of the time, the previous experience with huge international events and the possibility to host a celebration of modern music. “The next thing that’s going to happen, these cities go into the second and final stage, they have to give a little more detail about their plans. “The final, final decision is made based on which city and region scores highest against the BBC’s criteria.” The Kalush Orchestra plays at Glastonbury Festival. Credit: PA The BBC – which broadcast the competition in the UK – made the selection together with the event’s organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The broadcaster and the EBU selected the shortlist based on the cities’ “ability, capacity and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity”. The winner will need a large event space, suitable accommodation and international transport links for the competing countries and their delegations. Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, a rap-folk group, won Eurovision 2022, in a symbolic show of public support in solidarity against Russia’s invasion of the country. As a result of the war, the UK was given the chance to host Eurovision for the ninth time – more than any other country – after 2022 entrant Sam Ryder came second in the contest. Listen to Unscripted – our arts and entertainment podcast
