UK cities in the running to host Eurovision

The UK cities in the running to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest have been revealed.

Twenty cities applied to host the contest, but that number has now been whittled down to just seven - Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester and Sheffield.

It's set to be a landmark moment for the UK, which has not held the contest since 1998, when the event was hosted in Birmingham.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street was delighted to that the city got a step closer to doing it again, tweeting: "We have an exemplary track record of hosting major events in this city and region, and after the Games we're ready to show that to the world again.

"Looking forward to working with all partners to make this happen. Let's get to work."

Needless to say, social media commentators had a lot to say about the shortlisted UK cities.

One questioned: "Surely the host venue should have been the London Stadium, especially as the London Borough has the highest number of Ukrainians living in the UK. #Eurovision"

"Glasgow would be proud to host Ukraine's party next year," wrote a second.

"Damn, what about London?" asked a third while a fourth wrote: "Glasgow were amazing when they hosted the [Commonwealth Games], if there's one thing we do well, it's throw a party.""

"Newcastle! Newcastle!" added a fifth.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: "It's got to be Glasgow!"

While another commentator simply wrote: "Whichever city goes on to host Ukraine's #eurovision, I know that they will be given the greatest welcome and shown how much the UK stands with them."

Traditionally, the winner of the previous year's competition holds Eurovision, but because of the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine is unable to do so in 2023.

As the UK came second place with Sam Ryder's 'Spaceman' in the 2022 competition, it was decided that the event would be held here instead.

Ryder said of the UK hosting: "It's Ukraine's party, we're just inviting them to throw it at our house. I know how much it meant to Kalush and the Ukrainian delegation that it would be held at home in Ukraine next year. I'm not the only one whose heart is heavy knowing that that can't be the case at this moment in time."