Graham Norton — the BBC’s long-time Eurovision commentator — has suggested it’s likely the United Kingdom will host Eurovision 2023.
Speaking to the PA news agency at the launch of Paramount+ in the UK, the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judge expressed his sympathy for both Ukraine and the European Broadcasting Union, which on Friday delivered the news that it wouldn’t allow Ukraine to host next year.
“I think everyone is sad about it in one sense, because that must have been a really terrible decision for the EBU,” he said.
“They didn’t want to give that news to Ukraine and nobody wanted that happen.”
“Now that it’s happened, I know the BBC are looking at it really seriously, but will it happen? I don’t know. You know as much as I do.”
The UK has hosted Eurovision eight previous times — four times in London (1960, 1963, 1968, 1977), and once each in Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974), Harrogate (1982) and Birmingham (1998).
The popular TV host is best known to Eurovision fans as having been the UK’s Eurovision commentator since 2009. Graham has been involved with other Eurovision projects and made an appearance in the Netflix Eurovision film.
He would, no doubt, be a front-runner to host the song contest if it does indeed come to the UK.
The Irish-born TV host is also the star of his own talk show, The Graham Norton Show. The BBC show has been running for 29 series and attracts international celebrity guests.
Norton is also a familiar face on Drag Race UK. He stars as one of the show’s judging panel, sitting alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage.
His latest show — Queen of the Universe — premiered last December.
Do you think Graham knows more than he’s letting on? Do you think he will, in fact, host the show if it comes to the UK? Let us know down below!
Here are my thoughts: I hope the BBC enlist some consultants to design the show and it mirrors this years efforts rather than previous years. Let’s not forget the BBC have sent poor entries in previous years to Eurovision and shown very poor judgement in enlisting poor candidates and letting the public decide the winner. The BBC weren’t responsible for the great result we got at Eurovision this year, the task was handed off to the consultant agency Tap management and Sam’s record company Warner funding the project. The beeb sat back and took the credit. I think they need… Read more »
I dont understand why cant things be a bit more straightforward instead of so much rumour and stuff. It is evident that UK will host next year’s Esc so what is the point in so much yes but maybe not but maybe maybe???
Ja Ja Ding Dong!
UK fans: Please don’t get too excited yet. A lot of costing and planning has to happen before the ESC can happen. Graham knows this too. The BBC may simply not have the budget at this time. Will see as time goes on.
Out of everyone in Europe, the UK Broadcasters are the ones with the highest budget. If the UK can’t do it, NOONE can…
The BBC is under existential threat from a half-witted Tory culture secretary. They’re closing down channels, merging others, and making other dramatic cuts. If the license fee goes, it will be the end of the BBC as we know it. Purple Mask is right to be only cautiously optimistic.
Stop talking nonsense, the corporation operates under a royal charter, is the largest broadcaster in the world, turns over billions in revenue and makes hundreds of millions in profit. It is going nowhere.
You’re telling me that government has no power? That Tories have never privatised anything? Okay.
Jesus, someone’s been reading too many clickbate headlines!
Yes, the tv licence is up for review. I am guessing we will fall in line with other countries around the world where their tv licencing systems have been replaced with a broadband licence. This is how some countries now fund their public service broadcasters. It’s not the end of the BBC. The tory party are only pandering to the brain dead little englanders to try and win their votes.
You’re deluding yourself if you think the Tories don’t actually do harm, only pretend to do it.
The bigger issue for the BBC in hosting, or annual selection isn’t money — it’s focus. Given how large the broadcaster is, focus on 6-7 hours of programming in May isn’t really a big deal for them. They have a lot of other issues to deal with. Maybe with the contest hosted in their country as a prestige event, it will put their best people on this project.
I’ve read it costs a host broadcaster between 10 and 20 million depending on other income from sponsors or government support.
It costs the bbc roughy 2 million pounds for a single episode of casualty which is on for 1 hour on a Saturday night, so taking into account the usual costs of 4 hours worth of Saturday night content, plus the equivalent costs for 6 hours programming on BBC 3 (in lieu of the semi finals) it doesn’t seem like cost would be a huge stretch.
Jan Smit is normally a commentator and also became a host in 2021. Would make sense
He basicaly said ‘I know as much as you do.’ and thats the news? I think they still have some time to come up with a decision. Let’s just enjoy this ‘barely news’ season.
Of course he should be involved if the Uk host the next esc edition as he is a well known personnality in this esc world but to host the show, not sure… and moreover he is so iconic in commenting Eurovision on BBC since so many years that I can’t see somebody else, so I think he should comment too next year and not to host.
Please not Graham Northon hosting!
I think at least one Ukrainian person should host. Norton is normally regarded for his commentary. The best case scenario would be to get someone who has lived in the UK prior to the war who is part Ukrainian.
the first name to consider for a Ukrainian presenter should be Timur Miroshnychenko. another possible name might be Zlata Ognevich (2013 representative).
They both hosted JESC 2013 so it would be nice
If Graham Norton will be the host i wont even care about the norwegian voice.
Hopefully there is enough empathetic people within BBC in the negotiations to say no to the UK hosting the Eurovision.
It has been more than a month since Eurovision 2022 is over. Every day EBU wasted on dilly dallying is a day wasted for Ukraine to start preparing for Kyiv 2023.
FYI there’s a war going on and people won’t pay the insurance to see their delegations and tens of thousands of tourists can blown to smithereens!!!
Tell it like it is. Thank for being the voice of reason.
Are you saying the EBU is wasting time for Ukraine preparing for next year’s contest when they had to rely on other countries to produce the contest
to me, having Graham Norton as one of the hosts is a bit of a ‘lazy’ move. I prefer Rylan Clarke or Scott Mills.
Definitely not Scot Mills.
I think Rylan wouldn’t be a bad choice. I wouldn’t even mind having Ulrika Jonsson back.
but I think it SHOULD be an experienced presenter doing Eurovision. there are many options if it is in the UK: Allison Hammond, Davina McCall, Holly Willoughby, Mel Giedroyc, Philip Scofield, AJ Odudu, even more random names like Dermot O’Leary or Olly Murs.
Some of those afaik only work for ITV and therefore wouldn’t be eligible.
Realistically out of those the only one(s) I could see viable for the job are Davina, Holly or Mel but I’m pretty sure the former two only work under ITV.
but you should also remember that, in 2021, the Netherlands’ broadcaster NPO/NOS/AVROTROS borrowed Chantal Janzen from RTL4 (Chantal is not an NPO personality, but she was borrowed), so I think nothing is impossible now.
Allison hammond? Davina McCall? Dermot o’Leary? Sorry can you hear me back there in 2005? Times have moved on….
I would take Graham and Mel Giedroyc over those two because Mel did host UK’s national final before and she is very well liked
If Ukraine can’t host, then I think UK deserves to, after Sam Ryder’s amazing results. And if Edinburgh ends up being the host city, just like in Story of Fire Saga …. well, I’m all for it, though it would be a bit surreal — life imitating art, lol
It was Glasgow wasn’t it? Not Edinburgh that hosted in the movie.
the arena used in fire saga is the hydro in glasgow but in the story it was in edinburgh for whatever reason
Since Spain has withdrawn their bid, and it will VERY likely not be held in Ukraine, it really only comes down to Sweden vs UK as to who should host it. I think either would be great. I see a lot of support for Sweden because already hosted it twice in the past 10 years (and got good reviews for it) but a lot of fans are supporting UK because they were runner up and they will put on a professional show (plus UK has taken over the hosting position before when winning nations didn’t/couldn’t host). I think it will… Read more »
Sweden hosted it way to much and the UK last hosted it two decades plus. The UK came second, remember.
I can see Graham Norton following what Terry Wogan did in 1998 by appearing as a host at the opening and during the interval and commentating for the rest of the grand final. For years the BBC suffered humiliation and fierce criticism for their weak Eurovision efforts but after pulling off the greatest comeback in contest history going from 0 pts to 466 pts – winning jury voting and 2nd overall they are now ready to host the biggest annual music event for the first time in quarter of a century! Still feels like a fever dream for British Eurofans,… Read more »
Ukraine’s true colours? They want to host because they won, same as 2005 and 2017. They resent losing it because it’s just another thing Putin will have stolen from them.
If it is the UK, they will just be a stand-in. I don’t think it would be right to make that a self-congratulatory celebration of all things British.
So let’s endanger artists from across the Europe and waste money that could be used to help people in need because you want to make yourself look good. War is awful thing, nobody denies that. But you have to be blind or delusional if you can’t see what’s Ukraine’s take on Eurovision rn. It’s not even month after GF and they’re selling Kalush post stamps with riffles. It IS political tool and that’s only reason they care about that rn.
I think the biggest comeback on the history of the contest is rather Portugal going from withdrawing due to consecutive NQs to winning with a record breaking amount of points that has yet to come even close to be rivaled.
The memories of euro fans are really short time it seems
Ukraine 2016 and Israel 1998 pulled off the same feat, they did not compete the year before
How on earth do you know the Beeb will want to shorten the running time? Stop talking utter nonsense.
The BBC would be a great host!