This year’s Eurovision slogan was the inspiration to choose the hosts of the contest in Liverpool next month. 

United By Music is the slogan that was chosen by contest organisers for 2023. 

Hosts Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina all have backgrounds in the music industry, something that unites them all. 

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip, Lee Smithurst, Head of Show of this year’s contest, said: “When you get United By Music [as a slogan] it becomes a good thing to relate everything back to. 

“It became apparent with Alesha, Hannah and Julia that one thing they all had in common was music. 

Alesha Dixon was a member of British girl group Mis-Teeq in the early 2000s before launching a solo career of her own. 

Hannah Waddingham has performed in theatre productions for over two decades, while Julia Sanina is a singer and frontwoman of the Ukrainian band The Hardkiss. 

“It made sense right from the off when we put them together,” Smithurst added. 

“They’re so different in character as well, which is a nice thing especially when the scripts are being written because you can play to all their strengths.” 

Dixon, Waddingham and Sanina will be joined in the Grand Final by the UK’s Eurovision commentator, Graham Norton. 

The Irish broadcaster will appear on-stage with his co-hosts at the start and the end of the broadcast, commentating for the viewing UK public in between. 

This is similar to how Norton’s commentating predecessor, Terry Wogan, carried out hosting duties the last time Eurovision was in the UK in 1998. 

Smithurst also revealed that other names were discussed before settling on the final lineup of hosts, including BBC entertainment presenting stalwarts.

Featured image – BBC / James Stack