BIRMINGHAM, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have made the shortlist of potential host cities for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in the UK.

Aberdeen had applied to host the international music competition, but missed out on the final list. Edinburgh, too, submitted a late bid which was unsuccessful.

However First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was thrilled that Glasgow, where she lives and is an MSP, made the shortlist. 

"It’s got to be Glasgow!" she tweeted minutes after the news was revealed.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, added that she was "delighted" with the result.

"Delivering such a unique event in such a short timescale presents a challenge, but Glasgow has an unrivalled track-record for successfully hosting major global events and we’re confident we can present a Eurovision that reflects a true celebration of Ukrainian culture," she said.

“As the UK’s first Unesco City of Music – a title we share with Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv – Glasgow offers one of the most immersive live music experiences in the world and international visitors regularly cite our enviable music credentials as a reason for coming here.

"Add to that our OVO Hydro, which is consistently ranked in the world’s top five entertainment arenas, and our famously warm Glaswegian welcome, and we tick all the boxes for hosting a show that the Eurovision community, and the world, will long remember.” 

Even Scottish Secretary Alister Jack joined the excitement, saying: “I’m backing Glasgow all the way to bring the contest to Scotland.

“After the huge success of COP26 we know our biggest city can deliver the biggest events in the world.”

There was also disappointment from representatives in Aberdeen, who had been hopeful that the north-east would get the chance to host the massive event.

Jackie Dunbar, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Donside, said the city failing to make the  shortlist was a “blow”.

She tweeted: “Disappointed that Aberdeen and our brilliant @PandJLive have not been shortlisted as possible hosts of #Eurovision. We have the venue, @ABZ_Airport, and enough hotels so to miss out is a blow. The economic benefit to the city and shire would have been immense.”

Aberdeen's Council released a statement wishing the other contending cities good luck and explained they had not used financial resources in submitting their bid.

"The bid was not a council bid, but a collaborative effort by the council and its partners," they said.

"Officers reported to committee that no additional funding would be required at this stage for submitting a bid."

And former Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey acknowledged the problem with Edinburgh's bid.

"Edinburgh submitted far too late, which was a mistake & missed opportunity as the most European city in the UK," he tweeted. "However we should now all fully get behind Glasgow’s bid!"

Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra triumphed at this year’s competition in Turin, Italy, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the annual event, decided the event cannot be held in the war-torn country following Russia’s invasion.

The National:

Crowd watching Kalush Orchestra, Eurovision winners from Ukraine, performing during the Glastonbury Festival

The UK was then given the chance to host Eurovision for the ninth time, more than any other country, after Sam Ryder came second in the competition.

The BBC, which broadcasts the contest in the UK, and the EBU made the shortlist selection based on the cities’ “capacity, capability and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity”.

The winner will need a large events space, suitable accommodation and international transport links for the competing countries and their delegations.

READ MORE: Scotland in Eurovision: Our hidden history in the competition

Scott Mills joined Zoe Ball on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show to announce the successful cities.

After the 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.

“We are committed to delivering a truly unique Song Contest that celebrates wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all its diversity.”