Can Mae Muller bring Eurovision home for the UK? (Picture: Shutterstock)
Anticipation is hotting up as Liverpool gets ready to host Eurovision 2023, and with the Grand Final closer than ever, the favourites have been revealed.
The 2023 edition of the annual singing competition will conclude on May 13, with millions expected to tune in as the UK hosts for the first time in over 20 years.
In 2022, the UK’s Sam Ryder was pipped to the title by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, whose song Stefania saw them take the public vote by storm.
But due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they were left unable to host, with hosting duties now in the care of the UK having finished as runners-up.
The UK’s entry, I Wrote a Song by Mae Muller, has already reached the top 40 on the singles chart and is expected to perform well on the night.
But will it be enough to go one better than Sam Ryder and claim glory for the UK? Let’s have a look at who bookmaker William Hill thinks she’ll be up against.
Sweden’s Loreen with Tattoo – 6/10
Sweden are clear favourites to win Eurovision 2023, and a win would take them level with Ireland on a whopping seven Eurovision titles.
They were champions in 2015, 2012, 1999, 1991, 1984, and, most famously, in 1974 when Abba won with their iconic song Waterloo.
Their most recent win came when Mans Zelmerlow’s song Heroes stole away from the competition to take Eurovision back to Stockholm.
This year, they find themselves favourites again with Loreen, who won in 2012 with hit single Euphoria – she’s returning with expectedly massive anthem Tattoo.
Finland’s Käärijä with Cha Cha Cha – 3/1
Hoping to beat their neighbours to the title and walk away as winners of Eurovision 2023 are Finland, this year represented by Käärijä with Cha Cha Cha.
The rapper, singer and songwriter’s track is much in keeping with Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah, which was Finland’s previous winner in 2006.
It might not be a monstrous metal song like Lordi’s was, but its harsh electronics and industrial edge are just as extreme as Finland’s only winner to date.
Ukraine’s TVORCHI with Heart Of Steel – 8/1
Last year’s winners Ukraine are third favourites this year, with pop duo TVORCHI and their haunting yet funky slow jam entry Heart Of Steel aiming to repeat the heroics of the Kalush Orchestra 12 months ago.
A win for the duo, made up of producer and instrumentalist Andrii Hutsuliak and singer Jimoh Augustus Kehinde, would be Ukraine’s fourth in total.
If TVORCHI win this year, Ukraine will become the first nation since Ireland in 1994 to win consecutive Eurovision Song Contests.
France’s La Zarra with Évidemment – 12/1
In the early days of the Eurovision Song Contest France dominated, winning the crown in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1969, with a fifth title coming in 1977.
However, since then, that’s been it. They have finished as runners-up on no fewer than three occasions since then, with the most recent silver medal coming in 2021.
This time, they’ll be aiming to secure their first title in over 40 years with the upbeat dance-infused Évidemment by France-based Canadian singer-songwriter La Zarra.
France has already qualified for the Grand Final as one of The Big Five, who pay the most towards the competition and are granted automatic access each year.
The rest of the Big Five alongside France are the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and…
Spain’s Blanca Paloma with EAEA – 14/1
Spain caused a ruckus at Eurovision last year in Turin with Chanel’s sumptuous and stylish entry SloMo going down a storm to land them third place.
Blanca Paloma’s entry this year, EAEA, is an incredibly minimal song with lots of hand-clapping and sharp harmonies providing the majority of the backing.
It’s been an incredibly long wait for Spain to win at Eurovision, having last taken the crown in 1969, when they won for the second year running.
As it stands, they’re fifth favourites to finally claim that third title.
United Kingdom’s Mae Muller with I Wrote A Song – 33/1
According to national bookmakers, Norway, Israel, and Austria all stand a better chance of winning Eurovision 2023 than the UK, but we couldn’t do a Eurovision preview without checking in with our Mae.
As well as hosting the competition this year on behalf of Ukraine, the UK is also going to be performing last on the night, which is good news.
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Over the last 25 years, the winner of each Eurovision has usually performed in the second half of the show (70% of the time), and often towards the very end.
Mae might have to wait all night to perform the insatiably catchy I Wrote a Song, which will remind viewers at home of Dua Lipa almost straight away, but performing last can be a good thing.
Watch Eurovision on the BBC on May 13.
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Who will Mae Muller have to beat to win Eurovision?