Eurovision 2023: How to watch the Allocation Draw and what to expect-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

The Eurovision Allocation Draw will be hosted by AJ Odudu and Rylan Clark (Picture: PA)

We are now just a few months away from Eurovision being hosted in the United Kingdom again, but before that, there is plenty to be done in preparation.

Although the winners of last year’s competition Ukraine are not able to host, as runners up the UK has stepped in to take on the duties.

Back in October Liverpool was announced as the city that would be seeing the song contest staged there, with 31 countries set to compete this time around.

While we already know the semi-finals will be taking place on May 9 and 11, on Tuesday we will find out which countries will be performing on each night.

An official Handover Ceremony and Allocation Draw, hosted by Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu, will be broadcast from Liverpool’s St George’s Hall at 6pm on BBC Two.

It comes after the official trailer, logo and slogan were also released today.

While it is still too early to snap up tickets, the draw will help Eurovision fans plan out which of the nine live shows they want to try and head along too.

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest (Picture: Reuters)

How does the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Allocation Draw work?

This week the participating countries for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be a step further to their show-stopping performances when they find out what dates they will be hitting the stage.

The Allocation Draw will determine whether countries participate in the first semi-final (Tuesday May 9) or the second semi-final (Thursday May 11).

Another detail that is randomly allocated is is whether a country will perform in the first or second half of the semi-final they’ve drawn.

The United Kingdom and Ukraine, as the Host Country and reigning champion respectively, along with the four other members of the so-called ‘Big Five’ participating countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) do not compete in the semi-finals, but because their domestic audiences can vote in one of them, it will also be randomly determined in which Semi-Final they can each vote on.

Local school pupils, as well as members of the Ukrainian community who have settled in Liverpool since the war began, will also be involved in the allocation draw.

What is the Eurovision Handover Ceremony?

Also taking place tonight is the Handover Ceremony, in which the host city of the previous Eurovision Song contest hands over the keys to the next host city.

Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of the 2022 host city, Turin, Italy, will hand over the official keys of the contest to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson.

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How to watch the Eurovision allocation draw?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Handover and Allocation Draw will air live on BBC Two on January 31 at 7pm.

The 30-minute programme will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer after it has aired.

The Eurovision Song Contest airs May 13 on BBC One.

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