Eurovision 2023: BBC announces UK cities holding official events

BBC has confirmed plans for the final Eurovision 2023 ticket sale.The broadcaster confirmed on its social media that the last remaining Eurovision tickets, for both semi-finals and the final, will go on sale on Monday (April 24) at midday GMT.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC, has defended the decision of screenwriter Steven Knight, best known for “Peaky Blinders,” to spice up Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” in his television adaptation, now airing on the broadcaster. Referring to an S&M scene in the show, in which a naked Mr. Pumblechook (played by Matt Berry) is seen being whipped by housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs. Gargery (played by Hayley Squires), Moore said that Knight “believes absolutely everything [in the show] comes from what was alluded to” by Dickens in the novel. Moore, speaking Thursday to the Broadcasting Press Guild in London, added that “you have to really understanding what [Dickens] would have felt able to write about [in the Victorian era] and read between the lines.”

The BBC has tasked His Dark Materials writer Jack Thorne to pen a TV adaptation of William Golding’s seminal novel Lord of the Flies.

BBC TV boss Charlotte Moore has said she will not “censor” respected writers who want to make shows about controversial subjects such as Jimmy Savile and the Grenfell disaster. In a wide-ranging briefing with the media press, Moore also addressed the Gary Lineker and Richard Sharp controversies, future of Top Gear, the streamers and the closure of CBBC and BBC Four on linear.

Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker is set to appear in EastEnders as the residents of Albert Square celebrate Eurovision.The 69-year-old star, whose group won the 1981 contest with their track Making Your Mind Up, will have a cameo role as herself in the BBC soap.The broadcaster has not given any details about when Cheryl will make her appearance or what takes her to the fictional London Borough of Walford.The singer, who was born in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, revealed in an interview in 2021 that she had previously unsuccessfully auditioned for the series. She said of her forthcoming cameo appearance: “I was so thrilled to be asked to take part in an episode of EastEnders.

Nick Cave has announced a series of ‘In Conversation’ events for his memoir, Hope, Faith And Carnage, taking place across Europe later this year.Eight dates are included in the tour – which begins next month – and includes in-store book signings and Q&A sessions.The dates kick off in the UK, with an appearance at the upcoming Hay Festival on May 28. From there, the tour continues throughout the beginning of June, and features two dates in Amsterdam and two dates in Brussels.Events in Koln and Hamburg are also listed, before the tour draws to a close with a final Q&A session at the Heartland Festival in Denmark – set for June 8.What is included in each date varies, with some events only offering in-store signings, while others also provide a Q&A session with the Bad Seeds frontman.

Sam Ryder, Kalush Orchestra and Netta are among the artists set to perform at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest grand final.The 2023 competition is due to take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool next month, with Mae Muller representing the United Kingdom with the single ‘I Wrote A Song’.Today (April 17), it’s been confirmed that Ryder will make a return to the Eurovision stage on May 13. He’ll provide the first interval performance of the night, during which voting takes place.The singer came in second place at last year’s contest, scoring an impressive 466 points with his track ‘Space Man’.In a statement, Ryder said: “What an honour to be invited back to the Eurovision stage for a second time!“I can’t wait to be back amongst the beautiful chaos of it all and to watch the incredible artists perform this time around, while bringing you a special performance of our own.

The BBC has movedproduction of Silent Witness, one of its most popular long-running dramas, from London to the West Midlands.

A BBC Breakfast reporter gasped in surprise as Ainsley Harriot shut a door on him and welcomed himself into a stranger's home during a live TV broadcast. The celebrity chef was out and about knocking on doors to hand out invitations to a local Coronation Big Lunch on Thursday (April 13).

Nora Forster, singer John Lydon’s wife of 44 years who has been living with Alzheimer’s since 2018, has died.

BBC Arts has unveiled a lineup of documentaries for its ‘Arena’ strand that will appear on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer this spring, and which includes new films about Little Richard and Kae Tempest.‘Little Richard: King And Queen Of Rock N Roll’ will examine the life and career of the rock n roll musician, featuring interviews with Ringo Starr, Keith Richards, Nile Rodgers and Big Freedia, as well as a previously unaired interview with Little Richard himself.Shot over several years, the Kae Tempest documentary offers a glimpse into the life and creative process of the poet, rapper and playwright.Suzy Klein, Head Of Arts And Classical Music TV, says: “’Arena’ is back with a focus on the icons, works, people and moments we think we all know, but where there are still rich and surprising stories to tell”.“I hope audiences will be as gripped by this latest series of films as we are”, she goes on, “and I’m so proud to be working with some of the UK’s leading filmmakers at the height of their careers, championing the best of British documentary-making”.Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor of the series adds: “Creativity is at the heart of ‘Arena’ – and here we have some intriguing cultural subjects paired with a set of brilliant directors, and the resulting films are surprising, bold, and highly individual”.The documentaries are set to air this spring.

Actor Ian McKellen has reiterated his love for Manchester in an interview with the BBC.

Mae Muller has spoken to NME about her hopes for the competition, and how her song aims to “make people feel empowered”.Last month it was announced that Muller will be representing the United Kingdom at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, heading to Liverpool in May with her track ‘I Wrote A Song’.Co-written with Karen Poole (Kylie Minogue, David Guetta, Galantis) and Lewis Thompson (Anne-Marie, Little Mix, Steve Aoki), the song seeks to pull victory from the jaws of defeat following a breakup, as Muller explained.“A lot of my music can come from a place of pain, even though the outcome is quite sassy and liberating,” she told NME. “This was one of those moments where I wanted to write something that made people feel empowered.

The BBC has announced a major shake-up of its 6 Music schedule — meaning a Manc music legend will lose his standalone show.

Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted today of federal bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors and accommodations provided to his son by a then-USC dean.

John Mayer won’t be spending much time at his Montana home in 2023.Rather than relax, the seven-time Grammy winner just announced his 19-concert “Solo Tour” that will take him all over North America from March 11 through Nov. 10.And if you’re the Big Apple and dying to hear “Your Body Is A Wonderland” live, you’re in luck.Mayer, 45, will hit New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 3 as well as UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.This won’t be your standard tour, either.“I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone.

Mae Muller performed her track ‘I Wrote A Song’ live for the first time this weekend – watch footage below.The London-born singer-songwriter, who will represent the UK at the annual Song Contest this May, gave the track its live debut at a pre-show party in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday (March 25).After being announced as the UK entry earlier this month, Muller said that to “compete in such a massive music competition is simply brilliant,” (via BBC) adding that it was “a dream”.Before the performance in Barcelona this weekend, Muller posted to TikTok to share that she was feeling “not that great” at that her vocals were struggling, but that she wanted the performance to be “stunning”.You can watch the performance below.Barcelona Eurovision Party: Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song!

For the first time in its history, the Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live in cinemas across the UK. 

Manchester’s Eurovision fans who failed to secure tickets for the annual singing contest will be able to line up the next best thing. The show is set to be broadcast live from Vue cinemas as it goes out to the world on May 13.

Eurovision Song Contest will be screened live in UK cinemas this year for the first time in the event’s history.The 2023 competition is due to take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool from May 9-13, with Mae Muller representing the United Kingdom with ‘I Wrote A Song’.Today (March 24), it has been announced that the Eurovision ’23 final will be broadcast in 500 cinemas nationwide.“Fans can bring their usual Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema, with fancy dress HEAVILY encouraged,” a press release reads.“Presented on the big screen and in 5.1 surround sound, the screenings of the Eurovision – Grand Final Live encourage sing-a-longs with all of the 26 acts that will make up this year’s final.”John Travers of CinemaLive, distributor of the event in cinemas, added: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s Grand Final live into cinemas across the UK for the first time ever!“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, come along in groups, get your fancy dress on, and come together to enjoy this historic occasion on the big screen!”Tickets go on sale at 10am GMT next Monday (March 27) – you’ll be able to purchase yours here.The cinema showings will also include an exclusive preview of BBC Three‘s new series I Kissed A Boy, which is scheduled to be screened prior to Eurovision.Earlier this month, tickets to attend the Eurovision grand final in person sold out in just 36 minutes.