10 of the best – and the worst – potential Eurovision hosts, from Alison Hammond to James Corden
Graham Norton, Verka Serduchka and Alison Hammond are among the television hosts people want to see presenting Eurovision. (John Phillips/Johannes Simon/Neil Mockford/Getty)
It’s official – the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the UK for the first time since 1998.
Ukraine won the 2022 contest, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ultimately asked the UK – which finished in second place – to host, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine with Russia.
Speculation is already mounting about what the contest will look like, as we wait for confirmation on which city it will be held in, and which lucky television personalities will be selected to host.
As we prepare for a year of Eurovision excitement, we take a look at 10 of the best – and the worst – potential Eurovision hosts, from Alison Hammond to James Corden.
1. Graham Norton
Graham Norton. (WireImage/ Samir Hussein)
This is an obvious one – Graham Norton is by far the most likely bet to host Eurovision 2023.
He’s proven himself to be a smash hit with audiences as the UK broadcaster for the contest in recent years, and his wit, charm and dash of camp makes him the ideal candidate.
Norton is such a popular Eurovision fixture that much of the social media commentary each year revolves around his spectacular, pithy comments.
Of course, if Norton were to host, he wouldn’t be allowed to spend the entire night putting down all the entrants, but we’d still love to see him bring his comedy chops to the role.
2. Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond filming for This Morning after interviewing Lady Gaga. (GC Images/ Neil Mockford)
Everyone can unite behind Alison Hammond – the This Morning presenter has become a mainstay of British television, and she’s proven time and time again that she’s a jewel to be cherished.
Hammond, who is also an actress, has been a presenter and a reporter on ITV’s This Morning since 2003, and in that time, she’s had her fair share of viral moments. Since 2020 she’s won a whole new fanbase for her on-screen dynamic with her Friday co-presenter Dermot O’Leary.
If selected to host, Alison Hammond would bring all the camp energy we need to the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. She’s a perfect fit.
3. James Corden
James Corden. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
As soon as news broke that the Eurovision Song Contest would be held in the UK, tweets started flooding in from concerned residents about James Corden.
The former Gavin & Stacey star has made a name for himself over in the US as host of The Late Late Show, but he recently decided to call it quits, with some speculating he could take the opportunity to return to the UK.
Corden has an uncanny ability to slot himself into queer-leaning spaces where he’s not wanted – remember The Prom? – and needless to say, LGBTQ+ people are worried. Nobody, we repeat, nobody needs to see Corden making tired jokes while he desperately tries to convince audiences he belongs at Eurovision.
If anybody with any power is reading this, we beg you, rule out James Corden now.
4. Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly during Pride, 7 July 2018, in Trafalgar Square, London. (Mike Marsland/WireImage for Pride In London)
If the Eurovision Song Contest has to be held in the UK, it should have representation from each of the four nations – and we vote for Lorraine Kelly as our pick for Scotland.
The television presenter has been a firm favourite among LGBTQ+ people for years, and she’s made a name for herself in the community for her tireless allyship.
Over the years, she’s appeared as a guest on Drag Race UK, and she’s even appeared in drag herself, proving that she’s no stranger to high-camp.
Kelly is also no stranger to taking anti-LGBTQ+ bigots down a peg or two. She would fit in perfectly at the Eurovision Song Contest.
5. Phillip Schofield
This Morning host Phillip Schofield. (HGL/GC Images)
Phillip Schofield pretty much never stops going – from hosting This Morning to his stint on Dancing on Ice, he’s pretty much everywhere, which is why we could see him being one of the top picks to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
Sure, he’s made some controversial opinions in the past about Eurovision – namely about the UK’s tendency to come last – but he would be a safe bet for a contest that will draw a huge audience from all sections of society.
He’s also gay, of course, which means he would surely find himself right at home on the Eurovision stage.
6. Dermot O’Leary
Dermot O’Leary attends the ITV Palooza at The Royal Festival Hall on November 12, 2019. (Dave J Hogan/Getty)
Dermot O’Leary is another television presenter who seems to be everywhere – it’s almost impossible to avoid him.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however, as he’s widely popular and was a huge hit during the glory days of The X Factor. Still, we’re going to be controversial and give O’Leary a big thumbs down for the Eurovision hosting gig.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with his presenting style per se – it’s really just that the Eurovision Song Contest needs a dash of camp mixed with a good helping of humour. If O’Leary was selected, it could end up feeling a bit too close to the X Factor reboot nobody asked for.
7. Ant and Dec
TV presenters Ant and Dec pose with theirs OBEs. (John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty)
We’re pleading with the universe – please, please keep Ant and Dec away from the Eurovision Song Contest.
Much like with O’Leary, there’s nothing specifically wrong with Ant and Dec, they’re among the UK’s most popular television hosts.
They’ve done pretty much everything, including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, but their target audience is very clearly cis-het, and Eurovision doesn’t need that energy.
8. Paul O’Grady
Lilly Savage (aka Paul O’Grady) attends The BRIT Awards 1995. (JMEnternational/Getty)
Paul O’Grady, once best known for his drag alter ego Lily Savage, would be a perfect fit for the Eurovision Song Contest, and for good reason.
He’s queer, he’s flamboyant, he’s not afraid to lean fully into his camp persona – that’s exactly what the Eurovision Song Contest needs.
We could see O’Grady being the perfect fit, and he could bring some much-needed theatrics to Eurovision if paired with the right co-hosts.
9. Verka Serduchka
Verka Serduchka performs her song “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” at the finals of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. (Johannes Simon/Getty)
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be a celebration of Ukraine, and that demands the presence of the ever-entertaining Verka Serduchka.
Serduchka – whose real name is Andriy Mykhailovych Danylko – famously finished in second place for Ukraine in 2007 with the song “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”, and it’s gone down in history as one of the most gloriously camp Eurovision entries of all time.
We can only imagine how spectacularly camp Eurovision would be with Graham Norton sharing a stage with Verka Serduchka.
10. Ani Lorak
Ani Lorak of Ukraine performs during the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest second semi-final at Belgrade Arena on May 22, 2008. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty)
While we’re at it, let’s get Ani Lorak to host, too. The Ukrainian singer entered the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Shady Lady”, finishing in second place to Russia.
Named the People’s Artist of Ukraine, she’s widely beloved in the country to this day, and she’s also done extensive charity work, even serving as a UN goodwill ambassador on HIV and AIDS.
Lorak taking on hosting duties would be a perfect reminder of just how successful Ukraine has been at Eurovision – and how successful it will continue to be.
Perhaps she could duet with Verka Serduchka while she’s there?
