Ant and Dec tipped to host Eurovision 2023 by North of Tyne Mayor after Newcastle makes the cut for shortlist-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

Could the Geordie duo take on hosting duties in Newcastle? (Picture: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

The shortlist for the UK cities officially in the running to host Eurovision 2023 has been announced by the BBC, with Newcastle among the regions that have made the cut.

So if the city is eventually chosen… could famed Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly wind up hosting the event?

Following the shortlist announcement – which saw Glasgow and Birmingham named among the seven cities on the list, while London and ‘underdogs’ Darlington were snubbed – the idea of Ant and Dec taking on the hosting duties was put forward by the North of Tyne mayor.

Mayor Jamie Driscoll wrote: ‘Congratulations to Newcastle for making the shortlist for the Eurovision Song Contest.

‘As we know, there’s no better place to hold a party, so it’s the perfect location. Maybe Ant and Dec could host it! #Eurovision.’

Considering Ant and Dec’s vast presenting experience, from Saturday Night Takeaway to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Britain’s Got Talent, it wouldn’t be the most far-fetched notion!

The North of Tyne mayor put forward Ant and Dec as presenting candidates (Picture: Twitter/@MayorJD)

However, a decade ago, Dec didn’t seem too pleased with the way the voting results treated the UK at the 2012 competition, when the nation finished in second-to-last place.

‘Reckon we should bin off #eurovision let’s have #EuropesGotTalent. They can’t not vote for UK with our talent,’ he tweeted at the time.

Hopefully after Sam Ryder’s incredible result this year, finishing as the runner-up behind Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, they may change their tune for the 2023 competition!

Dec didn’t seem pleased by the UK’s 2012 Eurovision result (Picture: Twitter/@antanddec)

The full list of cities shortlisted as possible contenders to host Eurovision next year are: Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Despite London mayor Sadiq Khan insisting that the English capital should play host to the event, the city was snubbed, after 20 cities initially put forward applications.

After the Eurovision shortlist was announced, Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted content, said: ‘We would like to thank all of the cities and regions that submitted bids to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We have seven fantastic cities who we are taking through to the next round.

‘Congratulations to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield – it’s exciting to see such a breadth of bids going through from across the UK.’

She added: ‘We are committed to delivering a truly unique Song Contest that celebrates wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all its diversity.’

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