Eurovision countdown to officially launch on the BBC this New Year with special programming

Eurovision is heading for Liverpool in May 2023 and the countdown will begin on New Year’s Eve

As the excitement continues to build for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, the BBC will be bringing audiences a special celebration concert this New Year’s Eve to kick the year of Eurovision in the UK off in style. 

The BBC will deliver the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine to a global audience of more than 160million as it takes place in May 2023 in host city Liverpool.

To get the party started, The Big Eurovision Party (1×100) sees some of the biggest stars in the recent history of the Contest take to the stage to perform their best known Eurovision bangers and ballads. The party is presented by Eurovision legend Edsilia Rombley, with the UK’s very own Rylan taking viewers back stage to chat with the stars.  Acts performing include 2022 winners  Kalush Orchestra, Subwoolfer,  Greece’s 2021 entry Stefania, TIX and the UK’s Sam Ryder. The concert airs on New Year’s Eve immediately after Sam Ryder welcomes in 2023 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The concert, which took place in the Netherlands last month and has been acquired for the BBC by Rachel Ashdown, Lead Commissioner for the Song Contest. 

On December 30, a very special edition of The Weakest Link sees Eurovision stars and presenters take part in the much loved quiz show. Former performers Duncan James, Cheryl Baker, Sonia and Kate Robbins appear alongside Scott Mills, Tia Kofi, Lauren Layfield, and Sarah Cawood. The show sees BAFTA award winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan host as the players work as a team to try to win up to £50,000 for their individual chosen charity. Each round, one player will be voted The Weakest Link by their fellow contestants and will leave with nothing. After a final head to head, one player will be crowned The Strongest Link and will take the prize.

The Big Eurovision Party and The Weakest Link: Eurovision Song Contest Special (1×45) join the previously announced Sam Ryder’s All Star New Year’s Eve which sees 2022 runner up Sam Ryder welcome in 2023. This spectacular celebration will see Sam joined by some of music’s biggest stars to put on an out of this world New Year Eve extravaganza.

Rylan said: “What better way to kick off the year of Eurovision in the UK than this incredible evening of programming on the BBC. The Big Eurovision Party is the perfect pre-party to the main event in May 2023 and we can’t wait to see new and existing fans enjoy the incredible music the Contest has to offer.”

Before all this, fans can cheer on 13 year old Freya Skye as she represents the UK at The Junior Eurovision Song Contest which audiences can watch live this weekend, Sunday 11 December from 3pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and CBBC. The UK commentators for The Junior Eurovision Song Contest on the BBC are Lauren Layfield and HRVY.