When is the Eurovision Song Contest? Where is it taking place? Everything you need to know

The Eurovision Song Contest will make its long-awaited return in May, with the UK hosting the final for the first time since 1997.

Mae Muller will be hoping to take it one step better than last year’s runner-up Sam Ryder as she will represent the UK in the final on May 13.

She was introduced as the UK entry on Thursday with her own single I Wrote A Song after a previous tour with Little Mix and performing on Jimmy Fallon.

The UK was invited to host this year’s Eurovision after last year’s winners Ukraine were unable to host the event due to their ongoing conflict with Russia.

So while fans await Mae’s performance at the annual music showcase, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Eurovision…

When is the Eurovision Song Contest?

The Eurovision 2023 final will take place on Saturday May 13 and the two semi-finals will take place on Tuesday May 9 and Thursday May 11.

All three shows will kick off at 7pm UK time and will be broadcast live for viewers around the world.

Where is it taking place?

This year’s Eurovision will take place in Liverpool, after the UK was invited to host the event on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine.

Traditionally, Eurovision winners host the following year’s event, but Ukraine is unable to do so due to its ongoing conflict with Russia.

In August, the BBC published a shortlist of 20 UK cities that initially submitted an “expression of interest”, with applicants in all four regions demonstrating how they would reflect Ukrainian culture, music and communities.

Of the seven cities named in August, six were in England, one in Scotland, and Belfast failed to make the Northern Ireland cut.

The final shortlist was then whittled down to Glasgow and Liverpool, and in November, Eurovision bosses confirmed that Liverpool would host the contest.

Both the semi-finals and the final will take place at the 11,000 capacity Liverpool Arena, with the city itself gearing up to host a host of special events throughout the event.

A UNESCO City of Music since 2015, Liverpool is synonymous with The Beatles and has a rich musical heritage.

Big stars: Sam Quek, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Julia Sanina, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon, Scott Mills, Rylan and Timur Miroshnychenko headline the host lineup

Who is the host?

A host of big names were confirmed as part of the Eurovision 2023 submission line-up last month, with commentator Graham Norton leading the charge along with Ukrainian singer and frontman for alternative band The HARDKISS, Julia Sanina.

They will be joined at the Liverpool Arena by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon.

The BBC said Graham will share the comment box with sitcom actress and former Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc, who is believed to help him cover it while he is on stage presenting.

Julia, Hannah and Alesha will present the two semi-finals live on May 9 and 11 from Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will be the Eurovision correspondent in Liverpool, appearing in VT inserts during the live shows and providing live information from the Ukraine comment box.

Once again Scott Mills and Rylan Clark will commentate on the two semi-finals live.

Where can i see him?

The BBC will once again present UK coverage of Eurovision and, for the first time ever, the two semi-finals will be broadcast on BBC One.

The final will also be broadcast on the same channel and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Superstar: Mae Muller will represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision with her own song I Wrote A Song

Who represents the UK?

On Thursday, the BBC announced that Mae Muller would be the UK entry for this year’s Eurovision.

The singer told BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark that it “seemed surreal” that her involvement would be out in the open after keeping the news under wraps for two months.

Sources said the decision to pick Mae was made in recent days and they are confident she will earn “much more” than zero points when she takes the stage in Liverpool in May.

Mae has previously worked with stars, including girl group Little Mix, opening for them on their 2019 LM5 tour.

When she was just 10 years old, she also appeared in a music video for pop star Mika’s hit Grace Kelly in 2007.

Who are the previous winners?

Last year Ukraine was crowned Eurovision champion with Kalush Orchestra, winning the most points through their song Stefania.

In 2021, Måneskin from Italy won the contest with Zitti e buoni, while in 2019, Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands won with his song Arcade.

Other memorable winners include Conchita Wurst for Austria in 2014, Loreen of Sweden in 2012, Alexander Rybak for Norway in 2009, Celine Dion for Switzerland in 1988 and most iconicly, ABBA for Sweden in 1974.

Sensational! Sam Ryder shocked UK viewers last year when he finished in second place, only losing to winners Ukraine.

Who represented the UK last year?

In 2022, TikTok star Sam Ryder was selected to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with his song Spaceman.

To the surprise of many fans, he finished in second place, topping the jury’s votes, only losing to winners Ukraine.

It ended the UK’s poor performance in the contest for many years, with our 2021 entry finishing in last place with zero points.

When did the UK win Eurovision?

The UK has been on a rough patch when it comes to its Eurovision results in recent years, however in the last century they have been viewed with much more consideration.

The Brits have done the competition five times; in 1967 with Sandie Shaw’s Puppet On A String, in 1969 with Lulu and Boom Bang-a-Bang, in 1976 with Brotherhood of Man and Save Your Kisses for Me, in 1981 with Bucks Fizz and Making Your Mind Up and in 1997 with Katrina and the waves and love shine like a light.

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on Saturday May 13 in Liverpool.