EUROVISION: BBC ANNOUNCES RAFT OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMING AHEAD OF 2023 CONTEST

This year's Eurovision Song Contest promises to be unlike any other for audiences in the UK with an array of captivating content set to air right across the BBC.

For the first time since 1998, the United Kingdom will play host to the 2023 contest and will do so on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine who are unable to host due to the ongoing war. This year marks the 67th edition of the competition as 37 countries compete for the coveted, life changing trophy.

BBC Breakfast

BBC Breakfast will be live from Liverpool from Tuesday 9 May until Sunday 14 May. There will be reporters live from the waterfront, soaking up the atmosphere at the Eurovision Village and Liverpool Arena ahead of the live shows.

The famous red sofa will be on location outside the Liverpool Museum on Friday 12 May and Saturday 13 May , with Charlie Stayt co-presenting from the city. In addition, there will be a special live event planned at a Liverpool music venue with Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, and weather presenter Carol Kirkwood will be giving the forecast from the Liver Building and the River Mersey.

Morning Live

Morning Live will be helping the audience get in to the Eurovision spirit with a mix of stories, lives on location and a very special Eurovision takeover of Strictly Fitness, headed up by Ukrainian Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin.

In addition to teaching Eurovision fitness each morning, Nikita will be presenting filmswhich explore how Eurovision Song Contest is bringing communities together. He’ll be meeting Ukrainians who have settled just down the road from the host city in Stalybridge and he’ll be chatting to fans ahead of each semi-final.

The One Show

The One Show will be relocating to Liverpool to become the official opening act for Eurovision! Every night from Tuesday 9 May through to the Saturday night Grand Final on 13 May. The One

Show will have a special week of Eurovision programmes - presented by Alex Jones and Ronan Keating from Tuesday to Thursday titled The One Show at Eurovision, followed by Alex and Rylan on Friday, raising the curtain with a brilliant mix of guests on the sofa, exclusive behind the scenes action, films shot around the UK, and live link ups to fans across the country.

In a special one-off, The One Show will be broadcast live on a Saturday evening as Eurovision Countdown with The One Show is broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Saturday 13 May from 7.30pm.

EastEnders

Cheryl Baker, who rose to fame alongside her fellow members of The Fizz (formerly known as Bucks Fizz) after they were crowned winners of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1981, is set to arrive in Walford as herself as the residents of Albert Square celebrate the highly-anticipated arrival of the contest in the UK, but why she ends up in Albert Square is yet to be revealed…

Speaking on her guest appearance, Cheryl said: “I was so thrilled to be asked to take part in an episode of EastEnders. It’s a British institution, for goodness sake! As a real-life ‘Eastender’, I have loved the show since day one and I literally can’t wipe the smile from my face.”

Bargain Hunt

On the red team is Cheryl Baker, who shot to stardom in a skirt ripping performance of ‘Making Your Mind Up’ with Bucks Fizz back in 1981. Cheryl is paired with 2018 entrant SuRie who put in an impressive Eurovision performance with her song ‘Storm’.

Battling against them on the blue team are Carrie Grant, who was part of vocal trio ‘Sweet Dreams’ at Eurovision 1983 and has since headed up the UK’s Eurovision jury. She’s joined by The X-Factor finalist and soul singer Andy Abraham, who represented the UK in 2008.

Saturday Kitchen

Saturday Kitchen Live join the Eurovision celebrations on the morning of the Grand Final with a special show. Host Matt Tebbutt will be joined by an international line-up of chefs from Eurovision Nations. Representing Ukraine is Olia Hercules, Niklas Ekstedt is flying the flag for Sweden and former Eurovision hopeful Donal Skehan is up for Ireland. They are all showcasing their home style delights, with plenty of mouth-watering recipes, perfect for any Eurovision party!

Pointless Celebrities: Eurovision Special

This Pointless Celebrities Eurovision Special features a host of Eurovision faces competing not only for a charity prize but to get their hands on that coveted Pointless trophy.

The four iconic pairs taking on the Pointless column are Eurovision Handover and Allocation Draw presenter AJ Odudu and Radio 2's travel presenter and Eurovision super-fan Richie Anderson; Icelandic competitor Daði Freyr and Swedish winner Måns Zelmerlöw; Irish winners Linda Martin and Eimear Quinn and Antony Costa from Blue (Eurovision 2011), a longtime friend of the show, with Jay Aston of The Fizz, who, as a member of Bucks Fizz took home the trophy in 1981.

The Hit List: Eurovision Special

The Hit List - returns for a very special episode to celebrate all things Eurovision! Marvin and Rochelle Humes host this exciting music quiz which is jam-packed with the biggest Eurovision and chart hits. Three teams will be hoping to avoid nul points, as they take on a range of Eurovision related rounds - from contest winning hits to tangentially themed tracks!

Between The Covers

Sara Cox is joined in each episode by a panel of four famous guests to discuss a newly published book which deserves to be put in the spotlight. The books are a carefully selected mix of genres that aims to include something for everyone. Each guest also has a BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) guaranteed to spark a discussion.

This year, as Liverpool and the UK prepare to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 on behalf of Ukraine, each episode of the series features a novel set in a Eurovision country. First airing in March, Between The Covers is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

BBC THREE

Eurovision Song Contest 2022 - A rewatch of last year’s sensational Turin Grand Final show on Friday 5 May to get everyone into the Eurovision spirit and building anticipation for a big week of Eurovision fun.

CBBC

Blue Peter and Newsround - Junior Eurovision 2022 UK representative Freya Skye will be reporting for Newsround from Liverpool during Eurovision week. She will also be live in the Blue Peter studio on the 12th May looking ahead to the Grand Final and giving her predictions.