BBC announces presenting and commentary line-up including Graham Norton, Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon, Timur Miroshnychenko, Sam Quek, Mel Giedroyc, Scott Mills, Rylan and Claire Sweeney
Today the star-studded team hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest from Liverpool to audiences across the world has been announced.
Presenting the Grand Final (Saturday 13 May) will be Eurovision legend Graham Norton, Ukrainian singer, composer and front-woman of The HARDKISS alternative band, Julia Sanina, Emmy Award-winning actress, Hannah Waddingham, and singer-songwriter, pop star and TV presenter, Alesha Dixon.
Presenting the two live Semi-Finals (Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May) from Liverpool will be the trio of musical superstars Julia, Hannah, and Alesha.
Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will be the Eurovision Correspondent in Liverpool, appearing in VT inserts during the live shows plus giving live insights from Ukraine’s commentary box in the Liverpool Arena. Alongside Liverpudlian presenter, Sam Quek, he will front the Opening Ceremony live stream on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube Channel.
For the Grand Final commentary on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (in the United Kingdom), Graham Norton and actress and comedian Mel Giedroyc will take turns in the commentary box to bring those watching at home their unique and expert views on the 2023 acts. And, for the first time in the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest history, both Semi-Finals will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (in the United Kingdom), with radio DJs and Eurovision experts, Scott Mills and Rylan bringing UK audiences their colourful and insightful commentary.
Bringing the contest closer to audiences in Merseyside will be a special commentary team on BBC Radio Merseyside, including Claire Sweeney and the winner of The Voice of Eurovision talent search, currently underway to discover new Scouse talent.
Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted, says:
‘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.’
The Grand and Semi Finals will be produced by BBC Studios.
United By Music
The Eurovision Family are all ‘United By Music’.
Graham Norton is a Eurovision Song Contest legend who has been commentating on the Contest for the UK since 2009. His multi-award winning BBC show, The Graham Norton Show sees Graham chatting regularly to the world’s biggest music stars and Hollywood A-Listers.
Julia Sanina is a Ukrainian singer, composer and frontwoman of The HARDKISS alternative band (winners of numerous YUNA Ukrainian Music Awards; 18-time award winners, five of which are for the best rock band of Ukraine and MTV Europe award nominees for “Best Ukrainian Act”).
Hannah Waddingham won an Emmy Award for her role in Ted Lasso, has been nominated for three Olivier Awards and has starred in West End and Broadway musicals (Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz, Into The Woods, Kiss Me Kate and Space Family Robinson), additional credits include Hocus Pocus 2, Game of Thrones, Sex Education, Willow and the upcoming Tom Jones limited series.
Alesha Dixon, formerly in chart-topping band, Mis-Teeq – who had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles – is also a hugely successful solo artist, Alesha is an experienced BBC TV presenter – fronting Comic Relief and The Greatest Dancer, judging Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Timur Miroshnychenko has commentated on Eurovision in Ukraine since 2007 and was a host on the 2017 show from Kyiv. He also presented Junior Eurovision in 2009 and 2013.
Mel Giedroyc, Rylan and Scott Mills have been involved in Eurovision for almost 25 years cumulatively and are highly experienced live broadcasters with Scott and Rylan hosting their own shows on BBC Radio 2. Mel cut her teeth on Light Lunch in the 90s, alongside hosting the award-winning Have I Got News For You. She has also fronted Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief and has presented with Graham Norton on Let it Shine and Children in Need.
Bringing a unique Scouse perspective to the proceedings are Liverpudlians Claire Sweeney and Sam Quek. Performer, TV presenter and actress Claire trained at the Elliot-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool. Her first major TV role was as Linsey Corkhill in Brookside and since then she has gone on to perform in many musicals including Chicago, alongside her TV presenting career. Liverpool born and Wirral based Sam is a former Great Britain Hockey player who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has presented numerous high-profile sports programmes and is currently team captain on A Question of Sport as well as regularly hosting BBC One’s Morning Live.
