Eurovision Song Contest kicks off tonight in Liverpool
The event will be broadcast live on BBC 2 and is presented by Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu.
Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu will present the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 handover and allocation event in Liverpool.
Rylan and AJ will be helped by pupils from a Liverpool school and members of the Ukrainian community who have settled in the city since the outbreak of the conflict.
Mayor Stefano Lo Russo, of last year's host city Turin, will hand over the official keys of the Eurovision Song Contest, known as the Insignia, to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson.
The allocation draw will also take place to find out who will take part in the semi-final of the Contest when it takes place in May.
All the countries taking part in the semi-finals are divided up into separate pots. These are sorted based on their historic voting patterns, to try and avoid countries who would traditionally vote for each other being in the same semi-final. The pots are approved by the Contest's Executive Supervisor and the Chairman of the contest's governing body.
The participants for each Semi-Final are pulled at random from these pots, deciding the line-ups for the two semi-finals in May.
In total 37 countries will take part in the contest and 31 will go into the draw for the Semi-Finals (May 9th and 11th) with 10 from each semi-final progressing to the Grand Final on May 13. The ‘Big 5’(United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy) and Ukraine automatically qualify go into the final.
Liverpool won the bid to host the contest on behalf of last years winners Ukraine.
Culture Counsellor Harry Doyle told us Ukraine has been at the heart of this years Eurovision plans.
He said: “We’ll have children from local schools including Ukrainian community as well and some Ukrainian students who are not studying in the city after being displaced because of the war. So, we are very honoured and proud to be doing this on behalf of Ukraine.”
Rylan said he was looking forward to presenting the handover
He said: “From being part of the UK delegation since 2018, Eurovision has become such a big part of my life.
“I’m so excited to be presenting the handover and allocation draw which symbolises the start of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023; the year the United Kingdom hosts Ukraine’s party.
“It’s going to be an amazing year for Eurovision. I genuinely can’t wait.”
Tonight's event will be broadcast live to BBC Two.