The Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was the most watched in the competition’s history, according to the BBC.
Hosted by the United Kingdom on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine, the spectacle – which aired live from Liverpool – attracted an average of 9.9 million viewers, with a peak of 11 million, with a 63 per cent share of the overall audience.
It means the show has overtaken the 2011 edition of Eurovision, with an average audience of 9.5 million viewers, to become the most-watched ever. Last year’s final was watched by an average of 8.9 million viewers.
BBC Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips says: “What an incredible Contest! It was unforgettable, unmissable event television on a scale never seen before delivered by the BBC to viewers across the UK and millions more watching around the world. Sweden took home the trophy in spectacular style and 2022 winners Ukraine were at the heart of the show.
“Liverpool welcomed the world’s biggest singing competition with open arms and embraced it beyond all of our expectations.
“The fact that so many millions of people tuned in reflects just how significant Eurovision has become and truly underlines the theme behind this year’s contest, United by Music. We really hope we did Ukraine proud.”
The show saw Loreen become the first female artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice as Tattoo topped the scoreboard, following close competition from Finland’s Käärijä and Israel’s Noa Kirel.
The singer – who won Eurovision back in 2012 with Euphoria – returned to the show this year with her hit single, which entered the running as a firm favourite.
Her victory means the 2024 Contest will be held in Sweden – 50 years since ABBA won Eurovision in Brighton, England in 1974 with Waterloo.
