Eurovision songwriter from Scarborough: 'UK's done well as host'

Liverpool is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine

Author: Karen LiuPublished 12th May 2023

A Eurovision songwriter from Scarborough is urging people to enjoy tomorrow's grand final.

Liverpool is hosting the Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine who won it last year.

Switzerland managed to secure its place in the grand final with its performance of 'Watergun' after securing enough votes on Tuesday's semi-final.

Ashley Hicklin from Scarborough co-wrote the song and said: "It seems like they're doing an amazing job so far. It's obviously not a small task to host Eurovision but I feel like they're doing a really, really good job on behalf of Ukraine.

"For this year we've got a really, really good singer and a really good team. He's done an amazing job and he really smashes the song. We've got our fingers crossed.

"The song was actually written two or three years ago, so it was actually written at a time when all the conflict started between Russia and Ukraine. The song's called Watergun.

"It's about a little boy who's just playing waterguns with his friends and then when he eventually becomes an adult and asked to fight for his country, it's the feeling of what he felt as a kid to what he actually feels now. It's actually a real life situation and no longer a watergun.

"Just enjoy Eurovision. It's amazing that for the first time in the longest time it's here in the UK. I feel like the entry from the UK, particularly last year, has maybe helped to open our eyes a little bit more and get us back into the spirit of it all."

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