
The anticipation is building as Liverpool prepares to host Eurovision 2023, and the favourites have been identified as the Grand Final approaches.
The annual singing competition will finish on May 13, 2023, with millions anticipated to tune in as the United Kingdom hosts for the first time in nearly 20 years.
In 2022, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra beat out the UK’s Sam Ryder, whose song Stefania swept the popular vote.
However, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they were unable to host, leaving hosting duties to the UK, who finished as runners-up.
I Wrote a Song by Mae Muller, the UK entry, has already entered the top 40 on the singles list and is predicted to do well on the night.
But will it be enough to outdo Sam Ryder and take victory for the United Kingdom? Let’s take a look at who bookmaker William Hill believes she’ll face.
Sweden’s Loreen with Tattoo – 6/10
Sweden is the obvious frontrunner to win Eurovision 2023, and a victory would tie them with Ireland for the most Eurovision championships with seven.
They won in 2015, 2012, 1999, 1991, 1984, and, most notably, 1974, when Abba triumphed with their legendary song Waterloo.
Their most recent victory occurred when Mans Zelmerlow’s song Heroes defeated the competition and returned Eurovision to Stockholm.
They’re favourites again this year, thanks to Loreen, who triumphed in 2012 with smash song Euphoria and is back with the expectedly enormous anthem Tattoo.
Finland’s Käärijä with Cha Cha Cha – 3/1
Finland, this year represented by Käärijä with Cha Cha Cha, is hoping to defeat its neighbours to the championship and walk away as Eurovision 2023 victors.
The rapper, singer, and songwriter’s song is similar to Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah, Finland’s previous winner in 2006.
It may not be a monster metal tune like Lordi’s, but its harsh electronics and industrial edge are just as radical as Finland’s sole previous winner.
Ukraine’s TVORCHI with Heart Of Steel – 8/1
Ukraine is the third frontrunner this year, with pop duo TVORCHI and their mournful but groovy slow jam entry Heart Of Steel hoping to replicate the heroics of the Kalush Orchestra from a year ago.
A victory for the pair of producer and instrumentalist Andrii Hutsuliak and vocalist Jimoh Augustus Kehinde would be Ukraine’s fourth overall.
If TVORCHI wins this year, Ukraine would become the first country since Ireland in 1994 to win two Eurovision Song Contests in a row.
France’s La Zarra with Évidemment – 12/1
France dominated the Eurovision Song Contest in its early years, winning in 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1969, with a fifth title arriving in 1977.
But that’s all there has been since then. Since then, they have come second on three times, with the most recent silver medal coming in 2021.
With the peppy dance-infused Évidemment by France-based Canadian singer-songwriter La Zarra, they’ll be gunning for their first crown in almost 40 years.
France has already qualified for the Grand Final as one of The Big Five, which contribute the most to the competition and receive automatic entry each year.
Along with France, the other members of the Big Five are the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and…
Spain’s Blanca Paloma with EAEA – 14/1
Spain produced a stir at Eurovision last year in Turin, finishing third with Chanel’s rich and sophisticated entry SloMo.
Blanca Paloma’s submission this year, EAEA, is a song featuring a lot of handclapping and strong harmonies that provides the majority of the backdrop.
Spain has had an extraordinarily long wait to win Eurovision, having last won in 1969, when they won for the second year in a row.
They are now the sixth favourite to win their third title.
United Kingdom’s Mae Muller with I Wrote A Song – 33/1
National bookies believe that Norway, Israel, and Austria have a higher chance of winning Eurovision 2023 than the United Kingdom, but we couldn’t do a Eurovision preview without checking in with our Mae.
This year, the UK will not only host the tournament on behalf of Ukraine, but it will also perform last on the night, which is fantastic news.
Over the last 25 years, the Eurovision winner has typically performed in the second half of the show (70% of the time), and frequently near the end.
Mae may have to wait all night to play the insatiably catchy I Wrote a Song, which will immediately remind viewers at home of Dua Lipa, but performing last may be beneficial.
Watch Eurovision on the BBC on May 13.