What is the Eurovision Handover Ceremony and Allocation Draw?
ALTHOUGH Eurovision 2023 is still a few months away, there is still much to be done including the Handover and Allocation Draw.
Here is everything you need to know about the ceremony that is happening TONIGHT (January 31).
What is the Eurovision Handover Ceremony?
The Eurovision Handover Ceremony and Allocation Draw is when the host city of the previous Eurovision Song contest hands over the keys to the next host city.
Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of the 2022 host city, Turin, Italy, will hand over the official keys of the Eurovision Song Contest to the Mayor of Liverpool, UK, Joanne Anderson.
Kalush Orchestra, Ukraine's entry won in 2022, but the broadcasting union decided the 2023 show could not be safely held in the country following Russia's invasion.
The UK was selected to host instead.
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What is the Eurovision Allocation Draw?
The live Allocation Draw will decide which country competes in which semi-final of the contest.
The Big 5 and 2022 winners Ukraine will also get the chance to decide which semi-final they will vote in.
According to the BBC: “All the countries taking part in the semi-finals are divided up into separate pots.
"They’re sorted based on their historic voting patterns, to try and avoid countries who would traditionally vote for each other ending up in the same semi-finals.
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“The pots have to be approved by the Contest’s Executive Supervisor on behalf of the EBU and the Chairman of the Reference Group, the Contest’s governing body.
"The participants for each semi-final are pulled at random from these pots, giving us the line-ups for the two semi-finals in May."
Who is hosting the Eurovision Handover and Allocation Draw in 2023?
Presenters AJ Odudu and Rylan Clark will be hosting the Eurovision Handover and Allocation Draw.
Speaking about hosting Eurovision, Rylan said: “From being part of the UK delegation since 2018, Eurovision has become such a big part of my life.
"I’m so excited to be presenting the handover and allocation draw which symbolises the start of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023; the year in which the United Kingdom hosts Ukraine’s party.
"It’s going to be an amazing year for Eurovision. I genuinely can’t wait."
Fellow host AJ added: “It’s so exciting to have the Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom in 2023.
"New and existing fans are in for an event like no other come May with spectacular live shows on the BBC and a city take over in Liverpool, all with British creativity and Ukrainian culture at its core.
"I can’t wait to kick things off with the draw later this month.”
How to watch Eurovision Handover and Allocation Draw
Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Handover and Allocation Draw will air live on BBC Two on January 31 at 7 pm.
The 30-minute programme will look at this year’s competition, as well as the Semi-Final line-ups.
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Presenter Scott Mills will also be on hand to take a look back over memorable moments.
The Handover and Allocation draw will be available on BBC iPlayer once it has aired.