BBC Eurovision Specials

Join Rylan and Liverpool's own Sunetra Sarker as Eurovision week kicks off. There will be highlights from this year's turquoise carpet, with Rylan and Sunetra catching up with this year's 37 Eurovision acts. Semi-final hosts Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina gear up for their presenting debut together, and Rylan spends time backstage for all the final Eurovision preparations.

The show also features highlights from Liverpool's Big Eurovision welcome event, presented by AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett, which takes place outside St George's Hall. Liverpool legends Frankie Goes to Hollywood will be on stage together for the first time in over 30 years.

Ukrainian Eurovision winner Jamala will duet with British artist Birdy on a Beatles classic, and there will be a special performance of Rise Like a Phoenix from Conchita, accompanied by a dramatic drone display.

Special guests Ricky Tomlinson and Shirley Ballas pay tribute to their home city, and international pop star Zara Larsson join icons of dance music Cream Classical to close the show.

Comedian Jason Manford and singer-songwriter Chelcee Grimes explore how the Eurovision Song Contest became the world's largest live music event, with an audience on a par with the American Superbowl, creating global superstars and leaving an impact on the lives of millions.

Jason meets the UK's last winner, Katrina Leskanich from Katrina and the Waves, who won in 1997, Sam Ryder, who came second in 2022's contest, and Mae Muller, who is representing the UK in Liverpool in 2023, to try and understand what makes a Eurovision hit.

Meanwhile, Liverpudlian singer-songwriter Chelcee provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of preparations in Liverpool, as well as revealing some little-known facts about the event itself. Did you know that Abba only decided to sing Waterloo in English on the night of the final in 1974? Chelcee also travels to Sweden to find out just how popular the contest is there.

Jason also meets three generations of one family from Newcastle, who tell him just what the contest means to them, and a group of LGBTQ+ fans from Manchester talk about the incredible impact the contest has had on their lives.

Taking top spot at Eurovision guarantees fame and fortune. But failing to win is no bar to success either. In this Top 20 countdown show with a twist, Fleur East and a panel of celebrity Eurovision superfans toast the other entrants whose songs have gone on to rack up millions of internet views and streams worldwide.

Packed with fun facts, unforgettable performances – and more than a few surprises – this is the perfect curtain-raiser for the big night in Liverpool, host city of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.