The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 has announced comedy icon Catherine Tate as the UK spokesperson.
BAFTA awarding winning actor and comedian Catherine will deliver the results of the UK’s National Jury live from the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena at the end of the televoting window during the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May 2023.
Catherine will follow in the illustrious footsteps of previous spokespeople which includes AJ Odudu, Amanda Holden, Nigella Lawson, Mel Giedroyc, Richard Osman, Alex Jones, Cheryl Baker, Katrina Leskanich from Katrina & The Waves and Lorraine Kelly, amongst many others.
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Speaking about becoming the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 UK spokesperson, Catherine said: “It’s very exciting to be announcing the iconic ‘douze points’ at Eurovision.
(Image: Getty Images)
“It’s just a foot in the door really as next year I hope to be the UK entrant!”
The Eurovision Song Contest is the world’s largest live music event, organised by the European Broadcasting Union, and is watched annually by around 160m people.
The competition is currently being staged in Liverpool and is being hosted by the BBC on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine.
The first Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final took place last night (May 9) and saw 15 countries compete for a place in Saturday’s Grand Final.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Following a public vote, 10 countries qualified for a place in the Grand Final.
Countries who will perform again on Saturday include Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.
They will join the ‘Big Five’ already through to Saturday’s Grand Final, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, alongside last year’s winners Ukraine.
A second Semi-Final will take place on Thursday May 11, 2023 at 8pm.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham, Ukranian singer-songwriter Julia Sanina and Graham Norton will take on hosting duties for Grand-Final.
Speaking to the BBC about helping to host the competition, Hannah Waddingham said: “It’s one of the world’s greatest music festivals.
“But this year, perhaps more than ever, it is such a great honour to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, a country which has carried itself with such strength and unity.”
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be broadcast live from Liverpool on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Semi-Final 1 is broadcast Tuesday 9 May at 8pm, Semi-Final 2 is broadcast Thursday 11 May at 8pm, and the Grand Final is broadcast on Saturday 13 May at 8pm.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
