The United Kingdom has agreed to host next year's Eurovision song contest, after organisers said there was no prospect of the pop extravaganza going ahead in war-torn Ukraine.
The BBC will now produce the world's biggest live music event, taking in performers from across Europe and Central Asia as well as Israel and Australia, in a UK city yet to be determined.
Ukraine won this year's contest, held in Italy, ahead of the UK's entry in second place. For the past month, it had insisted it could host next year's despite the Russian invasion.
But after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that out on security grounds, the government in Kyiv acquiesced to a UK-hosted event with a strongly Ukrainian flavour.
Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said on Monday that after "several rounds" of discussion, the EBU had given assurances of an "extremely high integration of Ukrainian context and presenters".
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that in phone talks last week with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, they "agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine".
"As we are now hosts, the UK will honour that pledge directly — and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends," Mr Johnson tweeted.
Mr Johnson's spokesman added it had been the soon-to-depart prime minister's "strong wish" for Ukraine to host the 2023 edition, and found it "deeply regrettable" that was no longer possible.
In May, Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra won in Turin, on a wave of support for their country following Russia's invasion.
Its lead singer Oleh Psiuk, whose bubblegum-pink bucket hat helped make him one of the breakout stars of the night, thanked the UK for stepping in.
"We hope Eurovision 2023 will have a Ukrainian flavour and celebrate our beautiful, unique culture," he said in a statement to the UK's Press Association news agency.
"We, in turn, will make all efforts to help Ukraine win next year as well, so that Eurovision 2024 can take place in a peaceful country."
Cities wait in wings
By convention, the winning country hosts the kitsch celebration of music the following year. Britain last hosted it in 1998.
But last month, the EBU said Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of more than 10,000 people involved in the production and a further 30,000 fans expected to attend.
The broadcasting union stuck to its line despite protests from Mr Zelenskyy's government, and rejected one proposal to shift the contest to a border location within Ukraine, away from the frontlines.
The EBU said Ukraine was still guaranteed a place in the 2023 grand final along with the organisation's "top five" countries: the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The other finalists will be selected via national votes by viewers and judges, typically ranging from mainstream pop to the rather odd.
This year's contest vaulted the UK's second-placed entrant Sam Ryder (pictured) to stardom. Source: Getty, AFP / Marco Bertorello
"The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity," he said.
But the cash-strapped BBC also has to contend with footing a multi-million-euro bill for staging the show, unless the UK government stumps up extra support.
The broadcaster said it aimed to select a UK host venue by the autumn, in collaboration with the EBU.
Whichever city wins will need to have an international airport, a sizeable conference venue and thousands of hotel rooms.
London, Manchester and Sheffield all said they were ready to step in. Glasgow had previously expressed interest.
This year's contest vaulted the UK's second-placed entrant Sam Ryder to stardom.
Last month, before another global TV audience, Ryder performed his quirky song Space Man in front of Buckingham Palace as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.
