Graham Norton's Eurovision 2023 historic first: 'Nobody has ever done it before'
Graham Norton will co-host and co-commentate the 2023 Eurovision Contest's grand final
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Graham Norton is set to achieve an historic first when he joins a star-studded line-up of presenting and commentary stars at the Eurovision Song Contest tonight.
The 60-year-old Irish television host will join singer Alesha Dixon, actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian alternative rock star Julia Sanina to present the night.
The BBC also announced Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Scott Mills, Claire Sweeney, Sam Quek and Timur Miroshnychenko will join the line-up.
But Norton will make a historic first when the eyes of the continent turn to Liverpool tomorrow as he both hosts and co-commentate the event.
Alesha Dixon, actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian alternative rock star Julia Sanina will join Graham Norton
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The Bafta TV award-winning host faces the tough task of getting from the stage to the commentary box.
Giedroyc told the BBC: “He’s going to be on stage, obviously, for a lot of it and then coming back into the commentary box.
“And I am going to cover for him when he is out on the stage.”
The 54-year-old added: “I think he timed it yesterday.
Mae Muller has been picked as the United Kingdom's Eurovision entry
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“I think it’s a minute-and-a-half to get between the stage and commentary box.
“We are just going to kind of, I’m not going to say wing it because that would be unprofessional, and we are professionals but we are going to see how that goes.”
However, Giedroyc will also make history by becoming the UK’s first female commentator at the Eurovision grand final.
The 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool after Ukraine was unable to meet organisers’ requirements due to security concerns following Russia’s invasion of the ex-Soviet state.
Mae Muller was born in the year the UK last won the coveted continental singing competition
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The competition will be held at the 10,000-seater M&S Bank Arena on King’s Dock.
There are 37 entries in this year’s contest, including British singer Mae Muller and Australian band Voyager.
The UK last won Eurovision in 1997, the year Muller was born, when Katrina and the Waves performed Love Shine a Light in Dublin.
Britain has hosted the competition on eight previous occasions.
Essex-born singer Sam Ryder finished runner-up to Ukrainian rap group Kalush last year
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However, 2023 marks the first time that Liverpool will host the event.
Essex-born singer Sam Ryder finished runner-up to Ukrainian rap group Kalush last year.
The 2023 Eurovision grand final starts at 8pm tomorrow.