The BBC have unveiled their full content offering for Eurovision 2023.
Earlier this year, the BBC announced special Eurovision programming that would be coming to BBC One in the run up to Eurovision 2023, and now the broadcaster has revealed even more Eurovision television and radio content coming up in the coming weeks.
Back in February, the BBC announced And The Winner Isn’t, a programme that will chart the success of Eurovision participants who didn’t win Eurovision, and The Greatest Show On Earth, a programme celebrating 25 years since the United Kingdom last hosted Eurovision.
In April, the BBC announced further Eurovision programming in the form of Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee’s Ultimate Guide, a programme which will showcase 20 reasons why The Eurovision Song Contest is the greatest show on earth, and Eurovision: Everyone’s A Winner, a one-off chart countdown of the 20 most successful Eurovision songs that didn’t win the contest.
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is the home of Eurovision 2023 on British radio, with various programmes scheduled across the network covering all things Eurovision. Paddy O Connell will be providing semi final commentary live on BBC Radio 2, whilst Rylan and Scott Mills will be commentating on the live final.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, has said of this: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be a very special event and who better to host Radio 2’s coverage of the Grand Final than our very own Scott and Rylan. And I’m delighted that for the first time, Radio 2 will be bringing our listeners all the drama and fun from the semi-finals, hosted by Paddy O’Connell. With years of Eurovision experience under his belt, Paddy is the perfect guide for fans and also those who may be discovering Eurovision for the first
time.”
"Eurovision is my favourite time of the year, I cannot wait! And I’m so excited and absolutely buzzing to be hosting the Eurovision Grand Final on Radio 2, the biggest and best music event in the world, with my partner-in-crime Scott Mills. We can’t wait to bring listeners closer to the action than ever before, with all the fun, excitement and backstage gossip from what promises to be an unforgettable night."
" I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be presenting the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Radio 2. I’ve had the great pleasure of being involved with Eurovision in various ways over the years, from commentating alongside Graham Norton to singing karaoke with the contestants, but presenting from the Grand Final in Liverpool is the ultimate childhood dream come true. Rylan and I will be going all out so please come and join the party live on Radio 2!"
"I’m walking on sunshine to join Radio 2 live in Liverpool hosting the Eurovision semifinals. Sam Ryder broke the UK Eurovision spell last year and I hope it’s magic for Mae in 2023."
In addition to the live shows being broadcast on BBC Radio 2, there is a selection of special programming already available (and some upcoming), exclusively on BBC Sounds as part of the Celebrating Eurovision season, as Laura Busson, Radio 2 Commissioning Executive explains.
“As the radio home of Eurovision in the UK, BBC Radio 2 is going to be building up the excitement to the Grand Final with a packed schedule of Eurovision programming across the network and on BBC Sounds. The Radio 2 listeners and Eurovision have such a rich history so we’re delighted to deliver so many Eurovision treats to our audience who have loved listening to and watching the contest for decades. Do tune into Paddy during the Semi-Finals, and Rylan and Scott broadcasting live from the Grand Final in Liverpool.”
Tuesday 9th May - Friday 12th May:
From Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show will celebrate Eurovision with Zoe and Richie Anderson, who will be in Liverpool, meeting Eurovision legends and local fans. On Friday 12th May, Zoe and her team will be live from Liverpool with a whole host of special guests.
Also on May 12th will be the Jeremy Vine Show live from Liverpool, which will look at what the event means to Ukraine and Ukrainians who have fled to the United Kingdom. Jeremy will get the latest from Kyiv and talk to Ukrainian musicians, including Kalush Orchestra.
On Wednesday 10th and Friday 12th May, Scott Mills will be broadcasting his show live from Liverpool, with Richie Anderson presenting the show in his place on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th May.
On Friday 12th May, Michelle Visage will present her Handbag Hits in the final 30 minutes of her show, where she will be playing non-stop Eurovision hits, ending with a special Eurovision edition of Lip Sync anthem.
Saturday 13th May: Eurovision Super Saturday
From 08:00-10:00 GMT, Dermot O’Leary welcomes the United Kingdom’s Eurovision winner from 1969, Lulu, into the studio for his show on BBC Radio 2. After this, from 10:00-13:00 GMT, Claudia Winkleman builds up to the final with music and special guests.
From 13:00-15:00 GMT, we will see Your Ultimate U.K. Eurovision Song, where Steve Wright counts down the top 40 U.K. Eurovision songs, as voted for by Radio 2 listeners, before unveiling your ultimate U.K. Eurovision song. This programme will be available on BBC Sounds from Monday 24th April.
Sophie Ellis Bexter’s Eurovision Disco comes to us from 15:00-18:00 GMT. The first hour will see Eurovision winning songs being played, the second hour sees entries from some of the biggest Eurovision names, including ABBA, Celine Dion, Olivia Newton John and many more, whilst the third hour sees some of the best second place finishes from Eurovision.
Richie Anderson will be playing two hours of Eurovision party requests from listeners from 18:00-20:00 GMT ahead of the live final from 20:00-11:30 GMT approx. Once the final has wrapped up, the party continues with O.J. Borg, with a show which will be simulcast with BBC Radio Merseyside. He will play some of the biggest Eurovision hits and speaking to fans in Liverpool and across the country.
Aside from all of this BBC Radio 2 content in the run up to Eurovision 2023, the BBC will also be airing programmes across BBC One and BBC Two.
Are you excited for all of this Eurovision themed content coming to BBC Radio 2? Which shows are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!
