Sam Ryder: I just want to be at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool

Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder has said he could not "begin to presume" that he would have a role at the 2023 contest but he just wanted "to be there".

In July, it was decided 2022 winners Ukraine could not host and the event was moved to the UK, with Liverpool later chosen as host city.

Ryder's Space Man earned him second place in the contest and the UK charts.

Speaking at the MTV Europe Music Awards, he said he would "enjoy it no matter what country it is in".

Following Kalush Orchestra's win in May, show organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) opened talks with the BBC after assessing the situation in Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

It was subsequently decided the contest would move to the UK and was awarded to Liverpool after a bidding process.

Speaking on the red carpet before the MTV awards in Dusseldorf, Germany, Ryder said he had been a fan of Eurovision since he was a little kid and "it never mattered where it was".

"If I lived in Liverpool, it might be a different story," he said.

"I would be like, 'Oh my God, it is coming here'. The traffic is going to be mental."

He said he would "enjoy it no matter what country it is in", but added: "As for my role, I can't begin to presume."

"I just want to be there. I would love to see it and experience it at home with everyone else."

He added Liverpool was "such an amazing city", which had "given us the bedrock of music as we know it", but he was also looking forward to the contest reflecting "the richness of Ukrainian culture".

After the contest was awarded to the Merseyside city, Culture Liverpool director Claire McColgan said it would reflect "what Ukraine and its people deserve".

"We're just hosting it, it's their party," she added.

Speaking at the MTV event, Kalush Orchestra singer Oleh Psiuk said his band were "very grateful to the UK for helping to deal with this situation".

"And of course we hope the UK can integrate some details of our culture, something that is important for Ukraine, because we did our best last year," he said.

"This year, our country will make the best artists, the best music, to win one more time."

The Eurovision semi-finals will take place at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena on 9 and 11 May 2023, with the final following on 13 May.

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