These titles include autobiographies, fiction for adults, and from the Young Adult genre, books which show how music has shaped political change and vice versa. These books were crowdsourced and shortlisted by librarians from across the UK. Today also sees the launch of the BBC’s Eurovision podcast, Eurovisioncast, made by the team behind hit podcasts Newscast and Ukrainecast. Turning their attention to the biggest music contest in the world are the four hosts: Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw; Eurovision fan, BBC Breakfast’s Nina Warhurst; BBC News’ Eurovision Reporter Daniel Rosney and Radio Merseyside presenter, Liverpudlian Ngunan Adamu. Eurovisioncast will bring the inside gossip on plans and unique insights on the competition. Listeners will also hear from former contestants, those set to take part in the 2023 Contest and celebrity fans. The first episode of the weekly podcast is available now on BBC Sounds and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio Merseyside.

Every night from Tuesday 9 May through to the Saturday night Grand Final on 13 May. The One Show will have a special week of Eurovision programmes - presented by Alex Jones and Ronan Keating from Tuesday to Thursday titled The One Show at Eurovision, followed by Alex and Rylan on Friday, raising the curtain with a brilliant mix of guests on the sofa, exclusive behind the scenes action, films shot around the UK, and live link ups to fans across the country. In a special one-off, The One Show will be broadcast live on a Saturday evening as Eurovision Countdown with The One Show is broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Saturday 13 May from 7.30pm. The 2023 contest will be the first contest since 1979 in which the winning nation was unable to host the following contest. It is the sixth occasion overall on which a different country has hosted after the original host nation was unable to, following the Netherlands in 1960, France in 1963, Monaco in 1972, Luxembourg in 1974, Israel in 1980 and Ukraine in 2023. The merchandise has been made by Banner Bags which specialises in helping organisations upcycle marketing assets. This year's Eurovision Song Contest promises to be unlike any other for audiences in the UK with an array of captivating content set to air right across the BBC. After audiences have cast their Grand Final votes, each national spokesperson from the 37 participating countries will present the points of their professional jury live to the world.

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Readers, libraries and reading groups are invited to take part in the Big Eurovision Read, a reading-for-pleasure initiative marking this year’s Song Contest being hosted in the UK. First broadcast in February, Rylan and AJ Odudu launch 2023's exciting Eurovision journey with Eurovision Song Contest: Handover Ceremony And Draw.

BBC News’ dedicated Eurovision reporter Daniel Rosney will be covering all aspects of the contest, particularly on digital platforms, with a special focus on the international Eurovision fandom and on the acts themselves as they prepare for May. Then on Friday 12 May Zoe and the team will be live from the centre of Liverpool ahead of a huge weekend for the city. Zoe will be joined by a host of special guests including Eurovision legends, super-fans and some of those involved in this year's contest. Richie Anderson will be out and about, meeting people from across the continent and beyond who have travelled to Liverpool to join the party. Whether or not Richie will be dressed in an inflatable spacesuit is yet to be confirmed! A BBC Audio production.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be a very special event and who better to host Radio 2’s coverage of the Grand Final than our very own Scott and Rylan. And I’m 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 O’Connell. 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.” Between 2002 and 2023, the Host Broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest would select a slogan to accompany the Contest. For the 2024 Contest in Malmö it was decided that the Liverpool 2023 slogan United By Music would remain the permanent slogan for the Eurovision Song Contest.

To be here and look up at these new banners and see how St George’s Hall continues to support the city of Liverpool and tell its people more about another mayor cultural highlight coming our way, just shows you how our venue continues to be a spiritual beacon for the city and deeply entwined in our shared history and culture.” Adorning the space between hall’s 16 massive central neoclassical pillars, the banners feature an energetic ‘pulsating’ design, with a vibrant and positive colour scheme and official Eurovision 2023 branding. On the week of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Tuesday 9 May), winner and past host of the contest, Måns Zelmerlöw, reveals some of the amazing stories behind iconic songs from the competition's history. So, we’re incredibly excited to reveal this new visual identity and logo, which aligns greatly with what St George’s Hall has historically always done – bring people together to celebrate our city’s most memorable moments. The live shows will also feature specially commissioned films and electrifying performances from music icons such as Rita Ora, 2022 Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra, the UK’s out of this world 2022 star Sam Ryder, Liverpool’s very own Rebecca Ferguson, 2010 Ukrainian entry Alyosha, icons of Eurovision and many, many more.The BBC’s renowned Storyville strand will be bringing Storyville Live to the Euro Festival taking place in Liverpool in May. Storyville, the BBC’s landmark feature documentary strand, will be showing the very best of international feature documentaries, a curation of new and classic music documentaries as well as films showcasing Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage and stories from the frontline of the war with Russia. BBC Children’s and Education The show is presented by Alexander Armstrong and Eurovision super-fan Richard Osman. Tune in to enjoy some nuggets of impressively obscure Eurovision trivia and see Eurovision royalty, Graham Norton, pop up with some special questions. Join us for this Pointless celebration of all things Eurovision. Part of EuroFestival - the programme of new commissions being delivered by Liverpool as host city - BBC Arts and The Reading Agency, are sharing a recommended reading list of reads sure to the hit the right note with both experienced and reluctant readers. Then BBC Three have all you need to get into the Eurovision spirit the eve of the 2023 Grand Final (Friday 12 May) with a flurry of watch again treats.

During the Eurovision Flag Parade of all 26 Grand Finalists, everyone will be treated to a unique performance by some iconic past Ukrainian Eurovision contestants. Get ready for a new twist on their Eurovision entries weaved with British classics when GO_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serducha take to the stage and remind everyone why they became much deserved Eurovision icons. Millions of people across Europe enjoy Eurovision every year, and the stats are huge. 99.9% of all TV audiences in Iceland are watching Eurovision on the night it's held and Sweden's Eurovision selection show is the country's biggest television show of the year. Ukrainian Eurovision commentator Timur Myroshnychenko explores the continent's love for the contest through the eyes of its commentators. Morning Live will be helping the audience get in to the Eurovision spirit with a mix of stories, lives on location and a very special Eurovision takeover of Strictly Fitness, headed up by Ukrainian Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin. In addition to teaching Eurovision fitness each morning, Nikita will be presenting filmswhich explore how Eurovision Song Contest is bringing communities together. He’ll be meeting Ukrainians who have settled just down the road from the host city in Stalybridge and he’ll be chatting to fans ahead of each semi-final. Fresh from the Eurovision Turquoise carpet on May 7th, Sam Quek is co-hosting alongside Gethin Jones as we go live to various locations across the UK to see how the nation’s getting ready for the musical extravaganza. Plus we’re also filming with students and staff at a Liverpool school which helped the city in their hosting bid. The pupils there will be treating us to a special performance of “Imagine” and looking at how the deaf community will be enjoying the music event. The 2023 contest will be the first contest since 1979 in which the winning nation was unable to host the following contest. It is the sixth occasion overall on which a different country has hosted after the original host nation was unable to, following the Netherlands in 1960, France in 1963, Monaco in 1972, Luxembourg in 1974, Israel in 1980 and Ukraine in 2023. The 2023 contest will also extend the United Kingdom’s record of hosting Eurovision to nine times.Scott says: “I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be presenting the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Radio 2. I’ve 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!” Eurovision super-fan and Kitchen Disco Queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor brings you three hours of the best music from everyone’s favourite song contest. In the first hour, she’ll be playing wall-to-wall Eurovision winning songs – nothing but the champions! Featuring Månaskin, Netta, Måns Zelmerlöw, Conchita, Lordi, Alexander Rybak and loads more.