Graham Norton loves Eurovision so much (Picture: The One Show/BBC)
Graham Norton has revealed he took the hosting job on top of his usual commentator role for Eurovision 2023 because he was worried if he didn’t he’d lose his ‘favourite job’.
The 59-year-old presenter has been the voice of reason in Eurovision fans’ ears for the last 13 years, and he wasn’t going to let anyone else get a look in on the role now the competition has landed on British shores.
In what is for many the best night on the calendar, the Eurovision final will take place on Saturday May 13 at the Liverpool Arena.
The city won the race to be the host city against other shortlisted contenders including Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle.
It was in 1998 when the contest, which sees European countries sing, dance, and shimmy their hearts out to win votes, was last held in the UK.
Indeed, not even Eurovision star himself Graham has ever ‘hosted or been around [a Eurovision] that’s been in the UK’ before, so this is exciting times indeed.
Alex Jones and Alex Scott quizzed Graham on his love of the song contest (Picture: The One Show/BBC)
The legendary presenter will be hosting this year’s event alongside Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, Britain’s Got Talents’ Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina.
But although Graham has commentated on the proceedings for British audiences for so many years, he feared if he didn’t take on that role on top of his exciting hosting slot, he could be replaced in future years.
‘I know that’s really greedy of me, but I just thought if I let someone else do the commentating they could be better than me and then I’ve lost my favourite job,’ the TV personality told The One Show this evening.
‘So I thought, “No, I’m ring-fencing that”,’ he explained.
Graham is so excited Eurovision is landing on British shores (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Sam Ryder will always be a national treasure since his incredible performance last year (Picture: Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns)
‘I’ll have to go, “Welcome to Eurovision”, then I’ll run back into my little rabbit hutch.’
Graham could hardly believe the show is actually coming to Liverpool in a few months.
‘It’s unbelievable. But it is going to happen,’ the star mused, a smile erupting.
The star also said he was ‘looking forward’ to working with fellow host Julia, who he said was ‘so inspiring’.
Graham loves ‘everything’ about the treasured song contest, although he did joke ‘the length’ is one downside in a muffled, jokey tone.
‘But apart from that, everything else is great. I just love it.’
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Last year Sam Ryder and his brilliant song Space Man triumphed with second place for the UK, coming in just behind Ukraine.
Our representative has not yet been announced for 2023, but watch this space (man).
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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The man loves Eurovision.