He’s among the favourites to present Eurovision 2023 in the U.K. And last Tuesday Ukraine’s Eurovision commentator Timur Miroshnychenko spoke out in favour of the EBU’s decision to have the United Kingdom host next year’s song contest.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the 36-year-old presenter said it was sad that his own country can’t produce the contest at home, but understands the EBU’s reasoning.
?? Ukraine’s #Eurovision commentator Timur Miroshnychenko is broadcasting from a bomb shelter this evening. pic.twitter.com/5t9rdtzA1n
— William Lee Adams (@willyleeadams) May 10, 2022
“It shouldn’t be postponed of course because we have to show to the aggressor that even in these horrible times we can celebrate, we can be together and be united.”
“Of course we’re a little upset that we can’t welcome all the people next year to Kyiv or somewhere.”
“For now there aren’t any safe corners in our country because you don’t know which next aim the Russian missiles will choose.”
“I think this is the only correct decision to organise the United Kingdom next year because your country came second and according to the rules, you are the one to do it.”
Timur is a long-time Eurovision fan and is inextricably linked to the contest in Ukraine. He famously co-hosted the 2017 edition alongside Oleksandr Skichko and Volodymur Ostapchuk. He previously hosted Junior Eurovision 2009 alongside Ani Lorak and Junior Eurovision 2013 alongside Zlata Ognevich.
Officials in both the United Kingdom and Ukraine have made it clear that the 2023 show will include a great deal of Ukrainian content. This is to mark Ukraine’s victory at Eurovision 2022 and to showcase the unique signature of Ukrainian culture.
Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko recently told Ukrainian television how that might look.
“The Ukrainian flag, videos of Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian presenters, and a Ukrainian creative group will become an integral part of the show in Great Britain.”
Timur isn’t the only Ukrainian star to speak out in support of the U.K. hosting next year’s show.
Speaking to the Press Association following her recent performance at Glastonbury, Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala discussed the European Broadcasting Union’s decision.
“It’s really sad the EBU decided to take away all this chance and all this hope,” she told the news agency.
“[But] I really understand that it has to be in a peaceful place for participants and for everybody.”
If the contest has to be taken from the Ukrainians, she agrees that the U.K. deserves the right of first refusal.
“Great Britain came second in the competition, so if Ukraine is unwilling to host the event for whatever reason, it would be fair to hold it in one of your cities.”
Timur is hyped a lot, he;’s been involved with many hosting gigs after the war in Ukraine (charities etc) and i think he’s been in the UK many times for shows too. I think he will most likely be the Ukrainian host of Eurovision 2023 and rightfully so as his role was smaller than the other 2 guys in 2017.
Totally out of topic: aren’t we having wishful Wednesdays this year?
I dont think his statement is sensible at all. From what I read I gather that he wants to use Eurovision as kind of retaliation against Russia. I dont know the terms agreed for UK to host Esc but according to what this guy is saying it seems as if the UK’s presence on next Esc will only be about the location. UK puts the venue and Ukraine everything else (but the money?). Again as it seems to be the rule with Ukranians they seem to avoid reality: ‘it is sad EBU decided to take away this chance”… There is… Read more »
It is not OUR war, if we give up YOU will be the next.
Omg who cares what does he say
Me.
I do. He is a huge supporter of the contest and he is actually making a very sensible statement
He isn’t just making random statements he was invited to be interviewed
I care.
The United Kingdom will pay the bill to host next year, so they have to right to make ESC all about themselves. What’s Ukraine trying to do? If we want to get reminded about the war, we will watch the News Channel. Eurovision should be politics-free.
if all you can muster up about next year’s contest is negativity then i suggest you don’t watch it. ukraine won this year, no amount of complaining can ever change that. ukrainians deserve more than ever to see their culture represented on the global stage. ukraine being in the news for all the wrong reasons is precisely why participating & being honored as last years winner at an event like eurovision is so important. especially right now
War is beyond politics.
And you what are you trying to do here? You don’t even know how will be the show and how the bill will be shared, so shut up, it’s the best you can do.
When we would like to know fake news about the greek staging we will call you.
The UK Gov itself said that they are willing to support BBC’s bid to stage it in the UK if the ESC is Ukraine-influenced to a great degree. So, you and everyone else crying out loud – just stfu.
Timur seems like a great guy – but Volodymur Ostapchuk is a far, far better presenter choice.
Timur is DILF, Volodymyr is not
It has already been said by the BBC and others that the contest will reflect both British and Ukranian culture. BOTH! Not all one or the other. This is fairest for everyone.
I get that fans praise him for broadcasting from shelter and I respect that, but we need more professional host for such event. And does the host have to be Ukrainian? Is it so much important to Ukrainian politicians that the host is someone with Ukrainian origin?
He was a host in eurovision 2017 in Kyiv… More professional?)
He was host in 2017, we can have someone else. And 2017 hosts were cringe as hell.
I found him a bit wooden TBH. He spoke like he didn’t understand his script.
If it’s a british, ukrainian co operation it’s kinda logical to have also a ukrainian host. Whats exactly the problem with that?
It is not logical that particularly host has to be Ukrainian.
Who do you want to host, some plastic wooden British model? Reconsider your priorities.
The BBC are hosting and paying so the UK should have FULL control over Eurovision
I can understand their being a Ukrainian taste but that’s all there needs to be, a taste
(I mean let’s all be honest Sam won the night)
I can already see opening ceremony with Ukrainian flags in spotlight without British flags anywhere
There will be flags of all 26 countries in the final, including both Ukraine and UK
Troll detected