CLAIRE M c COLGAN Q&A WITH

When Eurovision 2023 takes over Liverpool, after so many months of countdown and anticipation, one woman is likely to be most relieved, excited and proud.

Claire McColgan, Director of Culture Liverpool, was a major driving force behind the city winning the bid to host Eurovision.

In the full-on months that have followed, she has headed up a small but dedicated Eurovision team which has been working day and night to deliver a powerful cultural programme that showcases the best of Liverpool on an international level – and has Ukraine at its heart.

Made a CBE in February for her services to culture and arts, Claire joined Liverpool city council more than two decades ago, joining the bid team which saw us become European Capital of Culture in 2008. Since then she’s overseen the biggest events Liverpool has ever staged including three Giant Spectaculars, the Three Cunard Queens on the Mersey in 2015 and the 2019 and 2022 Liverpool Football Club victory parades.

The Navigator sat down with Claire to ask what we can expect from Eurovision and why it means so much:

What made you think Liverpool was right to host Eurovision?

Our major event experience and musical credentials made it the perfect fit. When the UK was topping the leader board during the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, I started texting my team at Culture Liverpool, saying if we won we had to throw our hat in the ring to stage this incredible event. Liverpool was the obvious and perfect place. When the European Broadcasting Union announced Ukraine was sadly unable to host due to the war, we were quick off the mark and were the first British city to publicly state our intention to officially bid to become the host city.

Were you always confident we'd get it and if so, why?

No, I wasn’t confident at all. It was a tough application process and there was a narrative that Liverpool was the underdog, with many convinced Glasgow would scoop the title. Throughout the whole bid journey we were steely and never underestimated what we would need to do to win the title. It just felt so right for the competition to be staged here, and with the Ukraine element it just made sense – we always stand in solidarity with those who need it and this is the ultimate expression of international friendship.

What do you think made the difference with our bid?

I work with a brilliant, creative team which, in a ridiculously short space of time, devised a cultural programme to complement the Eurovision Song Contest which managed to be moving, empathetic, educational, fun and attention-grabbing. This, combined with the amazing venues we have in this city, were some of the reasons the judges ultimately favoured Liverpool.

How has the preparation for such a massive event come together?

I can honestly say there hasn’t been a day that has gone by since we won without the word ‘Eurovision’ infiltrating, or in fact dominating, a conversation – personally and professionally. It’s wonderfully allconsuming. Culture Liverpool is a relatively small, but highly-skilled team, which is now making our bid proposals a reality – something that we would generally spend years on, is being turned around in a matter of months.

What should we expect when the big week finally arrives?

Expect a two-week Eurovision takeover of the city! From the EuroVillage fan zone and volunteers to community programmes and an amazing cultural festival – there will be a constant Eurovision presence in the city. This event isn’t just a one night show on TV – there is a huge amount of content, the majority of it free, taking place in the city aimed at residents and the tens of thousands of additional visitors we are expecting to descend on Liverpool. We know a global spotlight is going to be on the city in May and we are prepared to shine. We’re one of the best event teams in the world and we’ll be more than ready to do Ukraine and the UK proud.