Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham to co-host Eurovision

Ted Lasso prima Hannah Waddingham volition big this year's Eurovision Song Contest, alongside Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian vocalist Julia Sanina.

The presenting trio volition beforehand the 2 semi-finals connected 9 and 11 May, with Graham Norton joining them for the expansive last connected Saturday, 13 May.

More than 160 cardinal are expected to ticker the contention globally.

The UK is hosting connected behalf of 2022 victor Ukraine, which cannot signifier the lawsuit owed to Russia's ongoing invasion.

Emmy-award winning histrion Waddingham said it was "a large privilege" to beryllium involved.

"It's 1 of the world's top euphony festivals," the Game of Thrones and Sex Education histrion added.

"But this year, possibly much than ever, it is specified a large honour to beryllium lasting enarthrosis to enarthrosis with Ukraine, a state which has carried itself with specified spot and unity."

Britain's Got Talent justice and vocalist Alesha Dixon said: "There is conscionable thing astir the buzz and anticipation of a unrecorded amusement that can't beryllium rivalled. Eurovision delivers that excitement, creativity and talent, but connected a vast, planetary scale".

She joins Waddingham, an accomplished West End and Broadway actress, and Julia Sanina, frontwoman of Ukrainian alternate set The HARDKISS, who volition look connected tonight's The One Show.

"I'm truthful excited to showcase Ukrainian civilization and creativity, and to assistance enactment connected a amusement to marque my state proud," Sanina said. "I can't hold to get to Liverpool and conscionable the fans and the remainder of the Eurovision family."

It is an all-female line-up for the sound retired stages.

Longstanding Eurovision commentator Graham Norton volition articulation the 3 hosts for the expansive final, describing it arsenic "the top amusement connected earth".

"Every twelvemonth that I'm progressive it's a immense honour," helium said. "This twelvemonth is adjacent much peculiar and I personally consciousness a large work to marque our Ukrainian colleagues proud."

He volition besides stock commentating duties connected the last with histrion and comedian Mel Giedroyc, who has antecedently been progressive successful the BBC's semi-final coverage.

Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko, who hosted Eurovision successful Ukraine successful 2017, volition besides beryllium progressive successful the unrecorded shows, arsenic good arsenic hosting the opening ceremony, which volition beryllium streamed online with BBC One's Morning Live presenter Sam Quek.

Like each large planetary events, there's a important outgo putting connected Eurovision and the measure is shared.

Local authorities successful Liverpool has committed to £4m for attractions astir May's contest. It volition spell towards initiatives similar a instrumentality colony with large screens and stages for unrecorded music, arsenic good arsenic different city-wide events.

The UK authorities besides says it volition lend financially - though it hasn't said by however overmuch - claiming a batch of wealth volition beryllium made backmost by hosting the event.

The bulk of the outgo volition autumn to the BBC arsenic big broadcaster. It's estimated Eurovision volition outgo the corp betwixt £8m and £17m - a important leap from what it usually spends participating.

Further accusation astir tickets to Eurovision, with fans capable to bargain them for 9 shows (including rehearsals) is expected successful the coming weeks.

All 37 participating broadcasters person astir a period near to corroborate the opus and creator they'll beryllium sending to the opus contest.

All the build-up, insights and investigation is explored each week connected a caller BBC podcast called Eurovisioncast.