Eurovision 2023 Handover and Allocation Draw. January 31st. 7pm. BBC Two and iPlayer
Liverpool will officially take over the reins of Eurovision 2023 this evening, when the Mayor of 2022 Host City Turin, Stefano Lo Russo will hand over the keys of the Eurovision Song Contest, known as the Insignia, to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson.
Presented by leading TV personalities and BBC presenters, Rylan and AJ Odudu, the glittering event will be broadcast live from Liverpool and will also mark the first stage of the competition starting to heat up, as competing countries are divided into groups and musicians warm up to face-off in the coming months.
This decisive event will ultimately determine which country will compete in which Semi-Final of the contest when it takes place in May as well as deciding which Semi-Final the Big 5 (Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy) and 2022 winners Ukraine will vote in.
HOW ARE THE GROUPS SPLIT?
All 37 countries taking part in the Semi-Finals will be divided up into separate pots. They’re sorted based on their historic voting patterns, to try and avoid countries who would traditionally vote for each other ending up in the same Semi-Finals. The pots have to be approved by the Contest’s Executive Supervisor on behalf of the EBU and the Chairman of the Reference Group, the Contest’s governing body.
The participants for each Semi-Final are pulled at random from these pots, giving us the line-ups for the two Semi-Finals in May.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
Both AJ and Rylan will oversee proceedings, conducting the live draw on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday 31 January from 7pm.
They’ll be assisted by young people from a local Liverpool school and members of the Ukrainian community who have settled in Liverpool since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Scott Mills will also give viewers an insight into what to expect from the Semi-Finals with a look back at the most memorable moments and the global mega hits from the past few years of the Contest; famous faces of Liverpool will ‘welcome’ the world to Eurovision and the 2023 Contest’s unique look and slogan will be unveiled.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT LIVE?
You’ll be able to watch the Handover and Allocation Draw live on BBC Two and on BBC iPlayer from 7.00pm this evening (Tuesday 31st January 2023).
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said:
“This is a massive event and the eyes of the world will be on us in May, especially those of our friends in Ukraine. Now begins months of work to put on the best party ever. Ukraine – you have my promise we will do you proud.”
For more information on the BBC’s Eurovision 2023 coverage click HERE.