The mayor of Ukrainian city Odesa, which is twinned with Liverpool, says it's a "matter of great pleasure" to see Liverpool win the bid.

"Your city is worthy of that as it embodies the colourfulness and brightness of entire Europe. You definitely know how to make the world dance and sing along with you," Gennadiy Trukhanov says.

"Next year all musical roads of Europe will lead to your city, and we are happy that not only Eurovision contest will decorate Liverpool, but the city itself will adorn the event too.

"All of Odesa is looking forward to literally hearing from you!"

The UK is hosting the competition after organisers decided it could not be held in winning country Ukraine due to the ongoing war.

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts Reporter, BBC News

There were huge cheers of jubilation from the Eurovision fans watching The One Show on big screens in Masquerade's drag club when Liverpool was announced.

They're now blasting out Sir Cliff Richard's Congratulations - a Eurovision classic.

They warmed up for the news by playing a medley of Eurovision hits like Making Your Mind Up, Waterloo, Ding-A-Dong - and of course Sam Ryder's Space Man.

"Let's get this party started!" says the DJ as regular Friday night club music kicks in.

The party is going to last for another seven months.

Graham Norton revealed Liverpool as the next city to host the Eurovision Song Contest in a tense moment on BBC One's the One Show.

Glasgow had also been in the running to host the event on Ukraine's behalf next year.

UK viewers can watch the moment here.

Liverpool will be celebrating this evening. "We did it!", says the city's mayor, Joanne Anderson.

"Liverpool is honoured to be hosting Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine," she tweeted, external.

"Huge well done to the bid team and thanks to everyone who has supported us - now begins the work on organising the party. #AllYouNeedIsLove".

Image source, REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Kalush Orchestra, who won this year's Eurovision Song Contest for Ukraine, have sent Liverpool a message to congratulate them.

"We are very pleased that next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool.

"Though we haven’t had the privilege of visiting yet, the musical heritage of the city is known all over the world.

"Playing in the same place that The Beatles started out will be a moment we’ll never forget!

Graham Norton says this year's Eurovision runner up, UK musician Sam Ryder, "has made it cool again".

"It'll be interesting seeing the people come forward wanting to represent the UK now."

Graham Norton confirms the event will take place in Liverpool on 13 May.

"Pop that in your calendar," he says, before paying tribute to Sam Ryder, who came second place this year.

"He has really taken off the curse of Eurovision."

What a feeling in Liverpool. "It means everything," says the city's director of culture, Claire McColgan.

"We're doing it for Ukraine first of all, for our brilliant city and for the people who come here. It's going to be incredible."

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Roy Gladden says: "We've wanted it, we expected it but you're always on edge. We'll have a party that's never been done before."

Sonia, who was born near Liverpool, and came second in the contest back in 1993 says: "I'm absolutely over the moon.

"Scousers... we're going to have the biggest party ever!"

Liverpool has been revealed as the UK city that will host next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Colin Paterson
Entertainment correspondent, reporting from Glasgow

Image source, Colin Paterson

Delmonicas in Glasgow’s Merchant City.

They have a drag night called Filth, where the announcement is being shown on a huge screen.

Gina G is playing out.

The host Bella Houston just told me, “I didn’t expect to be this excited, but it feels like a huge moment.”

She has taken to the mic to ask, “Does anyone have a feeling?”

A nervous cheer goes up.

Gina G had been turned off. This is getting serious.

Colin Paterson
Entertainment correspondent, reporting from Glasgow

At the very moment the Eurovision host city is announced – fans will be arriving for gigs at two of the venues which are part of Glasgow’s bid.

The acts could not be much more eclectic.

At the Hydro there is US alt-rock-rapper Machine Gun Kelly, famous for songs including Bullets With Names and Hollywood Whore.

Right next door at the Armadillo it is the artist dubbed “the mild man of rock” by The Simpsons, James Taylor.

This helps emphasise a crucial part of Glasgow’s bid, just how musical a city it is, hosting an average of 130 music events a week.

It also underlines how much Eurovision has changed.

I am planning on getting Eurovision reaction from both sets of gig goers and I really do not know which group will be the bigger Eurovision fans.

The One Show is up and running.

Tom Fletcher from McFly and Olly Murs are on the show, and are both waxing lyrical about Eurovision.

"I love pop music and I feel like it's the ultimate celebration of pop," Fletcher says.

Murs agrees, calling it "the ultimate pop night".

Image source, EPA

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra took the Eurovision crown in Turin this year in a symbolic victory following the country's invasion by Russia.

The rap-folk band, who were given special permission to leave the war-torn country, soared to first place with 631 points after a massive public vote - the UK came second with 466 points.

Their winning song, Stefania, was originally written as a tribute to frontman Oleh Psiuk's mother, but it has been re-purposed as a rallying cry for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion.

A unique combination of old Ukrainian folk melodies and traditional flute with contemporary rap and hip-hop beats, its lyrics about "broken roads" and fields "turning grey" seemed oddly prescient given the devastation facing the country's citizens.

"After it all started with the war and the hostilities, it took on additional meaning, and many people started seeing it as their mother, Ukraine, in the meaning of the country," Psiuk said at the time.

"It has become really close to the hearts of so many people in Ukraine."

We don't have much longer to wait to find out where in the UK the Eurovision Song Contest will be setting up camp next May.

Graham Norton will reveal all on The One Show, which is starting at 19:00 BST.

Watch at the top of this page or turn on BBC One to find out if Liverpool or Glasgow will be the host for Eurovision 2023.

Colin Paterson
Entertainment Correspondent, reporting from Glasgow

I think I may have hit peak Eurovision.

I am currently trying to work out that if Glasgow wins, will it be possible to interview Lulu on Zoom live from an early evening drag show.

Zoom Bang A Bang indeed.

Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

When I called the comedian Craig Hill last week to tell him that Glasgow was in the final two cities in the running for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, he whooped with excitement: “I can’t wait to tell all the gays!”

He’s a huge fan and he’s rooting for Glasgow. So is Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon who told BBC Scotland that she was “crossing fingers and toes” for her home city.

There’s excitement too in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery where the bid delegation are waiting for Graham Norton to announce the winner live on The One Show.

Glasgow has a reputation for live music, large scale events and throwing a good party. Problem is, so does Liverpool.

Whichever city takes home the show will benefit hugely, not just from the economic spin-off, or the world profile, but from the morale-boosting effects of throwing the biggest, glitziest, campest party the UK has seen in a while.

As we wait for the Eurovision decision, let’s hear from a super fan who thinks Liverpool would be primed to host the event in 2023.

Tom Vogt from Runcorn knows a thing or two about Eurovision; he’s a big fan of the contest and was in Turin for this year's event.

“For years I’ve been used to travelling around to different cities across Europe… the idea of it just being down the road, down the street, it’s pretty exciting."

He says Liverpool faces “one last hurdle” while the city waits to here if they’ll be hosting the contest next May.

“There’s a massive buzz and people are excited of the idea of trying to get tickets for the shows. We don’t know the host city, the dates we’ve just got potential plans and I definitely think Liverpool’s plans sound amazing.

“Some of what the council has released about the cultural programmes and showcasing Ukraine, it does sound amazing… We are doing it on behalf of Ukraine.”

Image source, Getty Images

Former Ukrainian Eurovision winner Jamala says next year's contest will be the "greatest Eurovision" yet.

Jamala, who won Eurovision in 2016 with her song 1944, says she thinks the UK is the "best place in the world" to host the competition, despite initially hoping her home country would be able to stage the competition.

"For me, [the UK] is the best place in the world in music," she told the PA news agency. "That's why Eurovision in your country is the best place for me - you are about music, you are full of different kinds of styles and genres."

Former Eurovision winner Lulu says Glasgow deserves to host the 2023 song contest as it has the" audience with the biggest hearts".

She said she would be "personally thrilled" if the city where she grew up and learned about music was chosen to host the five-night event.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Lulu says Glasgow has the perfect set-up to hold the extravaganza and that the city's people would want to to do the best on behalf of the Ukrainians.

The singer told the BBC:"I know how much we love music, how much we supported music, how many great talents have come from there. I know how brilliantly a job they would do.”

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts Reporter, reporting from Liverpool

Friday nights in Liverpool are always big, but tonight could be bigger than usual if the city gets the vote to host Eurovision.

I'm going to watch the announcement on screens at the Masquerade drag club, complete with silver sparkly walls, which has already turned the lights down and turned the mult-coloured glitterball lights on.

Down the road on the waterfront, The One Show is preparing to broadcast from the British Music Experience memorabilia museum, and there's the usual steady stream of tourists having photos taken in front of the statues of The Beatles.

Next to them is busker Paul Kiddle, forming a Fab Five. He's hoping Eurovision comes to the city. "Liverpool is magic," he says between songs. "People come here all the time just to feel the magic of this place and the legendary Mersey Sound and the music that started from here."