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Two of them hosted Junior Eurovision 2013 and the other emerged as a major star of Eurovision 2021. And now Kateryna Pavlenko, Zlata Ognevich and Timur Miroshnychenko will join forces to host Vidbir 2023 — Ukraine’s national selection for Eurovision.

Earlier this autumn, Zlata and Kateryna were in the pool of music experts who wanted to become jury members for Ukraine’s selection. But they didn’t make the Top 3 of the public vote. Now it would appear things have worked out even better, as they’ll help guide viewers through what is surely the most important Ukrainian national selection ever — and one that will help unite a country during its darkest hours.

The jury for Saturday’s show will include Jamala, Taras Topolia and Julia Sanina

When the jury was announced, many Eurovision fans shared their disappointment that neither Kateryna nor Zlata would have a seat at the table. Vidbir 2022 judge Tina Karol came a few hundred votes short too.

But, based on social media responses this afternoon, folks are just as happy to see these queens as hosts of the show. 

Kateryna will be making her television hosting debut. Zlata, a former star of The Bachelorette and a Eurovision 2013 bronze medalist, has more presenting experience. The same year that she performed “Gravity” in Malmö, Zlata went on to co-host Junior Eurovision 2023 in Kyiv. 

Timur Miroshnychenko hosted last year’s edition of Vidbir alongside Eurovision 2005 host Mariya Efrosinina. That competition, which had some very strong entries, was unfortunately overshadowed by technical problems and the subsequent withdrawal by winner Alina Pash.

Timur is Ukraine’s most seasoned Eurovision commentator and hosted the contest in 2017 alongside Volodymyr Ostapchuk and Oleksandr Skichko

Ten acts will take the stage inside Kyiv’s Independence Square metro station on Saturday 17 December to compete for the ticket to represent Ukraine in Liverpool. 

Are you excited with the Vidbir 2023 hosts? Let us know in the comments down below!

21 Comments
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Vsl
Vsl
1 year ago

glad for Kateryna

Eurotoxic
Eurotoxic
1 year ago

Good for Ukraine BUT…

I don’t understand WHY the UK is paying all of this and AT LEAST they don’t have one British host…

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxic

These are the hosts for vidbir, not eurovision 2023. I think there will be a combo of British and Ukrainian hosts in the end.

Henno
Henno
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxic

lmfao – Epic fail.

esc s. 2014
esc s. 2014
1 year ago

Does somebody have a link for a stream? I can´t find any 🙁

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago
Reply to  esc s. 2014

I think it will be streamed on Youtube

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

Let’s hope this time it’ll be drama free *Nervous laughter*

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago

Is it me or are the presenters better than the juries? Ngl, Kate is my crush 😀

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

A good trio!

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago

It will take place in a metro bunker, it will be interesting to hear the acoustics

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Jamie

Depending on the quality of acoustics, let’s Be a bit lenient with Ukraine in case the song sound bad due to the metro acoustics. I don’t want to hear fans complain when Ukraine is doing what it can to put on the show under heavy artillery.

CatcoolH
CatcoolH
1 year ago

‘Junior Eurovision 2023 in Kyiv’
Lol

VivaLaDiva
VivaLaDiva
1 year ago
Reply to  CatcoolH

Haha, right? Wiwis wish Ukraine dominates Eurovisions by default.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  VivaLaDiva

Zlata and Timur presented the junior contest in Kyiv back in 2013. One number out, it’s not a big deal.

CatcoolH
CatcoolH
1 year ago
Reply to  VivaLaDiva

It was a joke

VivaLaDiva
VivaLaDiva
1 year ago
Reply to  CatcoolH

Oh, you would hope they were joking… Politicians never joke like this.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

That photo always makes me think, “Kateryna is not impressed”

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

I’d like the Ukrainian cohosts to have a decent grasp of English.

Dima
Dima
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

I’d love to see Kateryna Osadcha co hosting. She’s experienced knows English.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

Three men presented for Ukraine last time, I’d like a woman this time. Maybe Zlata is the one for the job.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Maybe it should be two women and two men, one of each from Ukraine and United Kingdom. But like I said, I’d like somebody from Ukraine who has a decent grasp of English so that they don’t look completely lost.