The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across the UK for the first time ever.
With fans from across the globe set to descend on Liverpool in a couple of months time as the UK hosts the 2023 edition of the world’s biggest song competition on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine, those who weren’t lucky enough to secure tickets will instead by able to head to their nearest cinema to experience the action on the big screen.
Distributor CinemaLive has announced it will be broadcasting the Eurovision grand final show live in cinemas nationwide for the first time ever.
It means that Eurovision fans up and down the country who missed out on grabbing tickets to the final – which sold out in under 40 minutes after going on sale earlier this month – will be able to come together to celebrate what is set to be the “biggest, brightest, boldest music party of the year”.
Eurovision 2023 grand final to be screened live in cinemas across the UK / Credit: Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
500 cinemas across the UK, including several here in Greater Manchester, will be screening the grand final on Saturday 13 May.
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Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, and Everyman are just some of the cinema chains taking part.
Vue Manchester Printworks, Odeon Great Northern, and Everyman Manchester are the Manchester city centre venues lined-up to screen the event – with cinemas in the The Lowry Outlet Mall, Trafford Centre, Didsbury, Heaton Moor, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, and more also set to welcome Eurovision fans through their doors.
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Event organisers say the screenings will encourage singalongs and fancy dress.
“We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the first time ever,” said John Travers from CinemaLive.
“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so get your fancy dress on, and come together to enjoy this historic occasion on the big screen.”
You cind out more and grab tickets to watch the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest grand final screened live in a cinema near you here.
Featured Image – Eurovision
TV & Showbiz
BBC confirm Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season
Danny Jones
Following reports late on Monday evening, the BBC has now officially revealed Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League campaign.
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day (MotD) since 1999, is set to leave the long-standing British TV and sporting institution after 25 seasons but will still remain associated with the BBC on various other projects moving forward.
Confirming the news on Tuesday, 12 November, the network said that while his MotD tenure will conclude come May 2025, “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup”.
The former footballer will also continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and his The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds alongside fellow co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match of the Day at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/BkHUScf9TK
Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player was famously suspended from the show back in March 2023 after comments made about the previous Conservative government’s “dangerous” rhetoric.
Shearer and Ian Wright (‘Wrighty’ having also announced he will be leaving the show at the end of the season) both walked out in solidarity with their close friend and colleague before being reinstated after issuing an official apology.
Putting the brief separation aside, Lineker has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the BBC for more than two and a half decades and when the title race does conclude at the end of next spring, he will have been one of the most recognisable faces in British football for 26 years.
Many have rightly pointed out that he served as the Des Lynam – the former MoTDhost for 11 years – for multiple generations of young football fans.
Timing makes sense as it’s more common for fans get their coverage elsewhere and quicker nowadays. Big shoes to fill regardless however but Lynham had a huge legacy too when Gary replaced him.
This past August marked Match of the Day‘s 60th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running programmes in British TV history, and to say that the household name and ever-entwined Walkers ambassador has made up nearly half of that is no mean feat.
Lineker has yet to issue a personal response via any channels by the official BBC statement, but viewers can expect to address the situation on the likes of The Rest is Football soon enough.
Thanks for the memories, Gary – especially for honouring your promise and hosting in those comically big white undies.
I’m A Celebrity 2024 line-up announced, with Coleen Rooney and Alan Halsall entering the jungle
Daisy Jackson
The full line-up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here 2024 has just been announced, with a host of famous faces heading into the jungle.
The hugely popular reality TV show will see the celebrity campmates thrown into the Australian wilderness, ready to take on a series of Bushtucker Trials and other challenges.
This year’s line-up includes Coleen Rooney, Corrie’s Alan Halsall, Strictly star Oti Mabuse and former boxing champion Barry McGuigan.
There are also a few big names from the music industry, social media stars, and daytime TV favourites joining the I’m A Celebrity line-up for 2024.
Last year, the hit show – presented by Ant and Dec – was the biggest entertainment series on any channel, with just under 11 million viewers.
This year’s is sure to bring in similar numbers with its star-studded cast.
Coleen Rooney is arguably the biggest name on this year’s I’m A Celebrity line-up (especially once you factor in the rumours that Rebekah Vardy may be added as a surprise campmate later in the series…)
Coleen said that the hardest part of heading into the jungle will be being away from her husband, footballer Wayne Rooney, and their four sons.
She said: “Wayne is supportive. He did say, ‘You know you are going to be on camera 24/7?’ but I said, ‘Yeah that’s the show!’. He is fine with it all.”
Coleen Rooney has joined the I’m A Celebrity 2024 line-up. Credit: ITV PlcOti Mabuse is also heading into the I’m A Celebrity jungle. Credit: ITV Plc
“I haven’t spoken about it with my younger two boys as not many know, but my eldest son told me: ‘Yeah go for it’.
“My second one was a bit more emotional. He thought about me being away for a long length of time, but hopefully that will pass. My parents are happy too that I’m doing something for me.”
Coronation Street legend Alan Halsall, who has played Tyrone Dobbs since 1998, is also joining this year’s camp, saying that he’ll miss being on Corrie for a bit (and golf) but hopes people will get to know him rather than his character.
As for phobias, he said: “I’m not scared of anything at home but if you were to put ten snakes on my head, I don’t know how I would feel about that as clearly I’ve never been in that situation before!”
Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse will be one of the famous faces around the campfire this autumn – and she’s foolishly admitted she’s petrified of snakes, so will inevitably be faced with a bucket of them on arrival. Great telly.
Corrie’s Alan Halsall is on the I’m A Celebrity 2024 line-up. Credit: ITV PlcThe famous campmates include Danny Jones from McFly. Credit: ITV Plc
She said: “I’d like to think I will be a comfort mum in camp. I can listen to stories, motivate and hopefully entertain everyone with a bit of dancing. I hope to teach everyone a few moves. We will create our own talent show in the jungle!”
McFly star Danny Jones said that he hopes he doesn’t ‘come home with new phobias’ after his stint in the jungle.
Speak of his prep for I’m A Celebrity, he said: “I’d love to have my guitar… to be without it is going to be a killer.
“I’ve stopped drinking caffeine. I’ve lowered my calories a little bit. It’s going alright. I felt the hunger for a few days. It’s not going to be anything like the rice and beans!”
Loose Women’s Jane Moore sounds like she’s going to have a horrible time with the Bushtucker Trials – she said: “I’m not sure how I will feel when faced with Australian creepy crawlies, as they are so much bigger and I’m not fond of cold water either – so any of the water Trials I would not really want to do.”
Tulisa Contostavlos of N-Dubz fame said: “I am like Frodo Baggins on an unexpected journey. I feel really adventurous this year and the place I am now in, I want to do things that take me out of my comfort zone.
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“I have always said I wouldn’t do this show in the past, as there are things that have terrified me. But the person I am now, I want to throw caution to the wind.”
GK Barry is heading into the jungle. Credit: ITV PlcTulisa from N-Dubz is on the I’m A Celebrity 2024 line-up. Credit: ITV Plc
GK Barry will be swapping out podcasts for the jungle, saying that she’s an Ant & Dec super fan.
“I can’t wait to meet them in Australia in the jungle. I am also excited to meet everyone on the programme, as the cast is always so amazing.”
Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough is another one who is apparently scared of everything, saying: “The more I think about being put in the ground with 50 snakes or getting those green fly things that bite poured over me – well there’s just no point thinking about it, as otherwise I won’t get on the plane!
“When Ant & Dec say things like, ‘We are going to suspend you off the side of that cliff’, you know it is not going to be a fun day out. It’s no Alton Towers – it will be torturous.
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“I made the mistake of watching episode one from last year and I nearly passed out watching it. I had to turn it off. And I hate cockroaches. There was a cockroach in a hostel I stayed in once and I checked out during the middle of the night, as the thought of it – urgh, even talking about it now gives me the chills.”
TV presenter and DJ Melvin Odoom said snoring is his biggest fear and added of his friend Marvin Humes (a previous I’m A Celebrity star): “I want to look like Marvin did last year when he looked sick in the shower!”
Boxing champion Barry McGuigan said his role might fall into the category of referee: “I acted as a referee and appeaser in Hell’s Kitchen. But this is different. A whole different set of circumstances. It’ll be a challenge.
“I would imagine I’ll be one of the elders and you can look at that in a calming down way. I might get irritated. I really don’t know.”
I’m A Celebrity will return to the air on Sunday 17 November 17.
Emily Sergeant -
29th March 2023 
