Eurovision may be our chance to get the world to like us again

There’s something distinctly British about the fact we’re only hosting Eurovision because the actual winners can’t do it.

This week we found out the seven cities in the running to host the 2023 contest, after it had to be relocated from the war-torn homeland of reigning champs, Ukraine.

Maybe we’ll pick up that “playing at home” luck and claim victory for the first time since 1997. But mainly I just hope it’s an opportunity for the rest of the world to start liking us again.

Let’s all agree: the past few years have been an absolute ’mare in terms of our global rep. There’s that whole “not actually being in Europe any more” for one thing. We’re in the middle of about 200 different crises and we don’t even have a prime minister. Meanwhile, outgoing PM/victim to the herd instinct Boris Johnson has made us the meme of the Western world.

The only redeeming thing we’ve recently done as a nation is vote Ekin-Su and Davide as Love Island winners.

The contest could be in Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow or Manchester. Wherever it ends up, it’ll be the chance for Europe to get to know the brilliant, distinct cities around the UK – the lovely accents, the friendly people, the widespread musical heritage.

Personally, I’m rooting for Newcastle. The city is already on a high since Eddie Howe turned up at St James’ Park and the football team actually started doing well, and the atmosphere there is amazing. Plus, there’s nothing I want more than to watch an over-excited presenter delivering Moldova’s phone votes while trying to decipher the Geordie accent. Nul points? Howay man!

But it’s clear that any city that gets the nod will embrace it, nail the opportunity and endear themselves to a global audience.

Oh, and maybe – just maybe – we might actually have a good song next year. The Arctic Monkeys hail from Sheffield, Mike Skinner grew up in Brum, and I think Liverpool had quite a famous band once.

We’ll have plenty of local inspiration to draw on. Finally, an excellent song that we can be proud to get behind? Aye pet, that’d be canny.

Yours,

Jessie Thompson

Arts editor