In less than 3 months, a new European (or Australian) champion will be crowned in front of millions and millions of viewers. While Europe is slowly revealing their entries for this year, the BBC has in the meantime decided who will be our final guides, for this journey.
Welcome our ESC 2023 Hosts!
Say hello to… Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina, Alesha Dixon and Graham Norton! (…and Timur Miroshnychenko, Sam Quek, Claire Sweeney, Scott Mills, Mel Giedroyc and Rylan.)
It’s a starstruck line-up that the BBC has presented not long ago, as the official hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Each individual will have their own and unique role to fill, whether it will be off-stage or on-stage, and guide fans and viewers through the show for the 2 weeks it’s in Liverpool.
It has to be said, that Hannah, Julia and Alesha will be the hosts of the live shows for both the semi-finals and the final, while Graham Norton will join the hosting duties for only the grand final.
But who are our hosts for the 2023 contest exactly? Let’s see who they each are:
Hannah Waddingham is a singer/actress who originates from London. She has most recently become well known, for her role as Rebecca Welton in the comedy show Ted Lasso. Her career spans all the way back to the year 2000, where she since has featured in numerous television shows which include Game of Thrones, Sex Education and Benidorm to name a few. As well as featured in musicals and movies as well. She’s even been nominated for a Golden Globe award, as well as won a Primetime Emmy Award.
Julia Sanina will be the Ukrainian face among the hosts. She is best known as the front singer of the group The Hardkiss, which even participated to represent Ukraine at the contest, back in 2016. In 2016 as well, she became on of the judges for the Ukrainian version of X Factor. She originates from Kyiv and started her band with her current husband.
Alesha Dixon is from Hertfordshire, England. She has as well featured as a television host, as well as taking part in various television shows, such as Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and much more. She’s also a well known singer, who has released multiple albums, both solo and part of the girl group Mis-Teeq.
Graham Norton is probably the name and face of The Eurovision Song Contest in the UK. Best known around the contest, for being the British commentator since 2009, he also hosted the 2015 celebration show, along with Petra Mede, as well as the Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007 and 2008. Outside the Eurovision Song Contest, he does host The Graham Norton show, and has featured in countless other shows as a host or judge.
The off-stage hosts!
That’s not all, as mentioned earlier, we will also have some off-stage hosts, who will help ensure that the Eurovision Song Contest goes as smooth as possible. These personalities will take care of the commentating, as well as the presenting of the opening ceremony.
Timur Miroshnychenko need no introduction to the Eurovision viewers, since he was one of the hosts, when the contest was held in Kyiv in 2017. He has also hosted the juniors edition, back when it was held in Kyiv as well in both 2009 and 2013. He will be the Ukrainian commentator this year, as well as the host of the opening ceremony.
For the authentic Liverpool touch, we will have both Claire Sweeney and Sam Quek. Claire is a singer/actress best known for her role in the soap opera Brookside, as well as her role in the musical Chicago. Meanwhile Sam is an Olympic Gold Medalist, in the field hockey discipline, and has as well featured in various sports related shows.
The commentator trio of Mel, Scott and Rylan should also not come as a surprise, especially to the viewers of the United Kingdom, since the trio have all in the recent past been commentating on the contest, during the semi-finals. All 3 are very well sorted when it comes to radio/television hosting and presenting, and will bring their Eurovision expertise to viewers in the UK once more.
Finally, BBC’s director of Unscripted, Kate Phillips had the following to say about the decision of the hosts:
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The BBC is thrilled to have such a talented line-up bringing the Eurovision Song Contest from Liverpool – on behalf of Ukraine – to the world.
One thing that truly unites us all is music, and we’re proud to have a team – who are well accustomed to the worlds of music, performing and live broadcasting – as part of our Eurovision presenting family.
It will be a remarkable moment for the BBC to deliver two huge pinnacles in this year’s broadcasting calendar, the King’s Coronation and Eurovision, within the same week.
What a line-up! What do #YOU think about these hosts and what do #YOU think about the BBC’s dedication for hosting the contest this year in general?
Let’s hear from #YOU on our forum site right HERE, or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok and Discord.
Source(s): Eurovision.TV and BBC.co.uk
