Eurovision has come to the UK for the first time in a while (Picture: Getty Images)
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Eurovision Song Contest has come to the UK this year, with acts from 37 countries – including our very own Mae Muller – heading to Liverpool for the annual spectacular.
The UK is hosting the show this year on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine, who triumphed at last year’s contest in Turin with Kalush Orchestra and their track Stefania.
While the winning nation normally hosts the following year, they were unable to do so due to the ongoing war with Russia – leaving it to the UK, who finished second with Sam Ryder’s Space Man, to step in.
Liverpool was named host city back in October 2022 after a closely-fought race against fellow contenders who included Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Sheffield.
It’s been a while since the contest was last held here – but when was the last time the UK hosted Eurovision?
And where did it take place that year? Here’s what you need to know…
When did the UK last host Eurovision?
The last time the UK hosted the Eurovision Song Contest was all the way back in 1998.
It took place here that year following Katrina And The Waves’ victory in Dublin the previous year with Love Shine A Light.
Israel’s Dana International won the 1998 contest in Birmingham (Picture: Getty Images)
That also marked the last time the UK won the contest – but it was the eighth time they had hosted, despite having only won five times.
The UK hosted the event several times in the early days of the contest when the previous year’s winner did not host, staging it in London in 1960 and 1963, and again in 1968 following Sandie Shaw’s win in 1967.
It also took place in Edinburgh in 1972 after 1971 winners Monaco decided not to host and in Brighton in 1974 after 1973 victors Luxembourg declined the chance to host (that being the year of Abba’s famous victory with Waterloo).
The UK also hosted the show in London in 1977 after Brotherhood Of Man’s win in 1976, and in Harrogate in 1982 after Bucks Fizz won the 1981 contest.
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Where was Eurovision last held in the UK?
The 1998 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Birmingham, at the National Indoor Arena.
The city was chosen to host the event for the first time after many other cities expressed an interest – with Aberdeen, Belfast, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Harrogate, Inverness, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield also considered.
With semi-finals having not yet become a part of Eurovision, proceedings consisted of only a grand final that year, which took place on May 9 1998.
Sir Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson were the presenters of the contest, which was won by Israel’s Dana International with her song Diva.
The UK’s representative Imaani finished a close second with her track Where Are You, while Malta came third, Netherlands finished fourth and Croatia were fifth.
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