Scots have expressed their disappointment after it was announced that Liverpool will host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Glasgow had hoped to host the annual music extravaganza at the 14,300-capacity OVO Hydro on the banks of the River Clyde.
However, it will instead take place on May 13 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, which has a capacity of 11,000.
Broadcaster and Eurovision TV host Graham Norton announced that the English city had been selected on the BBC programme The One Show on Friday evening.
Nicola Sturgeon said she was “gutted for Glasgow”, but congratulated the winning city in a tweet,
The First Minister wrote: “Congratulations, Liverpool. Gutted for Glasgow, but no doubt you’ll do Eurovision and Ukraine proud.”
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken followed close behind, writing: “Massive congratulations to Liverpool, a great city.
“Now gie it laldy for Ukraine.
“Am so proud of our Glasgow team who put together a brilliant bid to get to the final two.
“We’ll be cheering Liverpool on for a successful Eurovision with the Ukrainian people at its heart.”
The event is being moved to the UK after organisers decided it could not be hosted by 2022 champions Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Naturally, we are disappointed not to have been selected, but we are very proud to have made it to the final two cities and we wish Liverpool every success as they prepare to host Eurovision 2023.
“Glasgow remains a firm supporter of Ukraine and we look forward to watching Liverpool deliver a celebration of Ukrainian culture.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack reacted to the news saying: “Congratulations to Liverpool on being named Eurovision 2023 host.
“It’s a brilliant city and world famous for its music.
“Glasgow presented a really strong bid, and I know people across Scotland will be disappointed not to be hosting the contest this time round.
“However, I have every faith that Liverpool will put on a fantastic show that the whole UK will get behind, honouring the people, culture and creativity of Ukraine.”
Cities were judged on criteria including a suitable venue, commitment to making a financial contribution and “alignment with the BBC’s strategic priorities”.
Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “Although we are disappointed Glasgow’s bid to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was not successful, we wish Liverpool well with hosting next year’s event on behalf of Ukraine.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Glasgow City Council for all their work on this bid.”
He added: “Scotland continues to stand with the rest of the UK, Europe and the world, in condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“Since the conflict began, more than 20,000 people with a Scottish sponsor has arrived, representing 20% of all UK arrivals – the most per head of any of the four nations.”
Scotland’s largest entertainment venue, OVO Hydro, tweeted: “We are disappointed that Glasgow has not been chosen as host city for Eurovision 2023, but we know our friends and colleagues in Liverpool will do an incredible job.”
The venue wished Liverpool’s venue, M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, luck, adding: “You know where we are if you need a little extra laldy!”
The official Eurovision Song Contest twitter page tweeted: “Liverpool will host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine … and it’s gonna be proper boss.”
Glasgow – the bookmakers’ favourite from the start of the process – had hoped to benefit from a massive influx of tourists.
STV News reported recently that hotels across the city were already seeing soaring bookings as room prices surged, even though the exact dates had not been announced.
Glasgow showed off its Eurovision credentials in Will Ferrell’s 2020 Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
And the city is home to Lulu, who won the 1960 contest with Boom Bang-a-Bang, and Scott Fitzgerald, who was beaten to the title by Celine Dion in 1988.
Scotland has hosted Eurovision once before, when the contest took place at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh in 1972.
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