A BBC Eurovision director has said that Ukraine’s participation in the song contest can be imagined as a “really rich ribbon running through” the event, PA reports.

The international music show will take place in Liverpool in May after the city was chosen to host the competition on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

Martin Green, managing director of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 at the BBC, was asked by the PA news agency on Tuesday about how the country, which was invaded by Russia last year, will be emphasized at the event in May.

He said: “Just imagine it as a really rich ribbon running through the whole thing and importantly both on and off camera…

“We want to make sure that we celebrate and honor the fact that we’re hosting this on Ukraine’s behalf.”

He said the new branding for Eurovision, showing hearts beating together in the colors of the Ukrainian and UK flags – unveiled on Tuesday, was “hopefully” seen as a “statement of intent”.

The artwork has been a partnership between the UK’s Superunion agency and Ukraine’s creative studio Starlight Creative.

The slogan of this year’s event, United By Music, was also revealed the same day, which the BBC said “reflects the very origins of the contest, developed to bring Europe closer together through a shared TV experience across different countries”.

The branding also sees a “nod” to the city’s rich musical heritage and iron street signs, the BBC said, as the typeface Penny Lane has been used in the branding.

The Beatles, formed in Liverpool, released the song of the same name, Penny Lane, in 1967.

Green confirmed that Kalush Orchestra would be taking part in the competition in the grand final as last year’s winners, similar to previous years.

He added that the show is still in “deep development” so there is no announcement on musical guests, however, he did say that audiences should watch out for “a lot of surprises and goodies”.

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