Scott Mills and Rylan are both hosting Eurovision Night on BBC Radio 2 while Paddy O’Connell broadcasts the semis.
BBC Radio 2 – the home of Eurovision 2023 on UK radioย – today announces that Scott Mills and Rylan will be the stationโs presenters for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final which will be broadcast live on Radio 2 on Saturday 13thย May. And for the very first time, Radio 2 will also broadcast the Eurovision semi-finals, which will be presented by Paddy OโConnell.ย
Eurovision superfans and Radio 2 presenters, Scott and Rylan โ who have been involved in Eurovision coverage for many years – will be bringing their insightful and colourful commentary to the Grand Final on the network, broadcasting live from the centre of the action at Liverpool Arena. The UK is hosting the 2023 event on behalf of the 2022 winners, Ukraine. It will be the culmination of a week in the city for Scott and Rylan, as they are also providing TV commentary for the Semi Finals – both of which, for the first time in the UKโs Eurovision Song Contest history, will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Meanwhile, Scottโs afternoon show (Tuesday to Friday, 2-4pm) on Radio 2 will be coming from Liverpool all week, with Richie Anderson hosting the show on Tuesday and Thursday as Scott prepares to host the semi-finals on TV.
For the first time, this year Radio 2 will also be broadcasting the two Eurovision Semi-finals, with Paddy OโConnell hosting the networkโs live coverage from the Liverpool Arena. In the first semi-final on Tuesday 9th May (8-10pm), fifteen countries are taking part with ten qualifying for the Grand Final on Saturday night. And on Thursday 11th May, Paddy returns with live coverage from the second of the semi-finals, with sixteen countries taking part and ten qualifying for the Grand Final on Saturday night. These shows will also be simulcast on BBC Radio Merseyside.
Rylan says:ย โEurovision is my favourite time of the year, I cannot wait! And Iโm so excited and absolutely buzzing to be hosting the Eurovision Grand Final on Radio 2, the biggest and best music event in the world, with my partner-in-crime Scott Mills. We canโt wait to bring listeners closer to the action than ever before, with all the fun, excitement and backstage gossip from what promises to be an unforgettable night.โ
Scott says: โI canโt begin to describe how excited I am to be presenting the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Radio 2. Iโve had the great pleasure of being involved with Eurovision in various ways over the years, from commentating alongside Graham Norton to singing karaoke with the contestants, but presenting from the Grand Final in Liverpool is the ultimate childhood dream come true. Rylan and I will be going all out so please come and join the party live on Radio 2!โ
Paddy says: โIโm walking on sunshine to join Radio 2 live in Liverpool hosting the Eurovision semi-finals. Sam Ryder broke the UK Eurovision spell last year and I hope itโs magic for Mae in 2023.โ
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: โThe 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be a very special event and who better to host Radio 2โs coverage of the Grand Final than our very own Scott and Rylan. And Iโm delighted that for the first time, Radio 2 will be bringing our listeners all the drama and fun from the semi-finals, hosted by Paddy OโConnell. With years of Eurovision experience under his belt, Paddy is the perfect guide for fans and also those who may be discovering Eurovision for the first time.โ