Kalush Orchestra say President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been barred from making an address at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, would have only wanted to thank the British people for hosting the contest if he had been allowed to speak during the grand final.
The Ukrainian leader was rebuffed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – the group of national public broadcasters that produce Eurovision – over fears his message would “politicise” the contest.
Responding to the decision, Tymofii Muzychuk, who plays the distinctive pipe in the band’s 2022 winning anthem Stephania, told the PA news agency: “Actually we think that President Zelensky would have wanted to thank all the British people for doing this and, as we can see, Britain took this very responsibly, the UK.
“And so actually I think it would have been nice for him to talk.”
On Friday, the EBU said the Ukrainian president had “laudable intentions” but “regrettably” his request was against the rules.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment show and governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation,” it said.
“As part of these, one of the cornerstones of the contest is the non-political nature of the event.
More on Eurovision
Related Topics:
“This principle prohibits the possibility of making political or similar statements as part of the contest.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised the decision, saying he was “disappointed” by the move, but suggested there are no plans to ask the EBU to change its mind.
Advertisement
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former prime minister Boris Johnson also spoke out in support of Mr Zelenskyy who had wanted to make an unannounced video appearance and had been expected to implore the global audience of millions to continue backing his country in its fight to repel Russian invaders.
Image: The band won last year’s song contest in Turin, Italy
Liverpool is hostingthis year’s eventon behalf of Ukraine, which won last year, because the war-torn nation is unable to do so.
Now tasked with opening this year’s competition, Kalush Orchestra will perform a reworking of their hit titled Voices Of A New Generation. They say they hope their performance will make viewers want to “keep supporting” their homeland.
It is a haunting and powerful opening that they’ll deliver, as Sky News got to witness during a special closed rehearsal.
The song – which mixes rap with elements of Ukrainian folk music – is an immediate reminder of lives lost in the war and the Ukrainian traditions under threat.
Speaking through a translator, the band’s frontman Oleh Psiuk told Sky News: “Due to Eurovision, you have an opportunity to see Ukraine from different aspects.
“We have all sorts of different musical genres in our country, Ukraine is rich in different varieties of music.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:44
Kalush Orchestra on their hopes for Eurovision 2023
Eleven Ukrainian artists will perform in the ceremony itself, with Ukrainian motifs and the Ukrainian identity playing a central role throughout the night.
While Psiuk admits he was “upset” that it wasn’t safe for Ukraine to host, he said he’s grateful that Liverpool stepped in.
“We were a little bit upset, of course, but at the same time we want to say our deep, deep gratitude to the UK who decided [to take on] this responsibility to host the Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine… We really are so excited.”
Ukraine’s hopes this year rest on the shoulders of Tvorchi’s Heart Of Steel.
Psiuk hopes the electronic duo will make it two wins in a row or towards “the top at least” of the leaderboard.
“We think that they have a pretty high chance to win,” he says.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t had an opportunity to meet with them yet, but we do hope…We will be able to meet with them [to] advise them from our previous experience last year.”
The rapper’s message for viewers is simple: “Don’t forget about Ukraine, keep supporting [us].”
Aslef members in more than a dozen train operators went on strike on Friday, affecting anyone with tickets for the second dress rehearsal, and members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will strike on Saturday – the day of the grand final.
Passengers have been urged to check their route before setting off.
Sky News will be in Liverpool covering all the biggest news from the contest as it happens.
The Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s fourth book has been delayed by her publisher.
It comes amid claims that the author lied about her story in her hit first book. Winn previously described the claims as “highly misleading” and called suggestions that her husband had Moth made up his illness “utterly vile”.
In a statement, Penguin Michael Joseph, said it had delayed the publication of Winn’s latest book On Winter Hill – which had been set for release 23 October.
The publisher said the decision had been made in light of “recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health”, which it said had caused “considerable distress” to the author and her family.
“It is our priority to support the author at this time,” the publisher said.
“With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, has made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October.”
A new release date will be announced in due course, the publisher added.
Spotify
This content is provided by Spotify, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spotify cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spotify cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spotify cookies for this session only.
Winn’s first book, released in 2018, detailed the journey she and husband took along the South West Coast Path – familiarly known as The Salt Path – after they lost their family farm and Moth received a terminal health diagnosis of Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).
But a report in The Observer disputed key aspects of the 2018 “true” story – which was recently turned into a film starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson.
Image: Raynor and husband Moth (centre) with actors Jason Isaacs (L) and Gillian Anderson (R). Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
Experts ‘sceptical of health claims’
As part of the article, published last weekend, The Observer claimed to have spoken to experts who were “sceptical” about elements of Moth’s terminal diagnosis, such as a “lack of acute symptoms and his apparent ability to reverse them”.
In the ensuing controversy, PSPA, a charity that supports people with CBD, cut ties with the couple.
The Observer article also claimed the portrayal of a failed investment in a friend’s business wasn’t true, but said the couple – whose names are Sally and Tim Walker – lost their home after Raynor Winn embezzled money from her employer and had to borrow to pay it back and avoid police action.
Image: Anderson played Winn in a movie about the couple’s journey. Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
It also said that, rather than being homeless, the couple had owned a house in France since 2007.
Winn’s statement said the dispute with her employer wasn’t the reason the couple lost their home – but admitted she may have made “mistakes” while in the job.
“For me it was a pressured time,” she wrote. “It was also a time when mistakes were being made in the business. Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry.”
She admitted being questioned by police but said she wasn’t charged.
The author also said accusations that Moth lied about having CBD/CBS were false and had “emotionally devastated” him.
“I have charted Moth’s condition with such a level of honesty, that this is the most unbearable of the allegations,” Winn wrote on her website.
Heaton Park, just north of Manchester City centre, is tonight hosting 80,000 fans who’ve come to see the Gallaghers’ homecoming.
“I would honestly say it’s a real cultural moment of the 21st century,” says Sam, who’s from Manchester and has come here with a group of friends – including one who has travelled from Australia for the gig.
Image: Oasis fans wear band T-shirts with the almost obligatory bucket hats. Pic: Reuters
This will be the fourth time Sam has seen Oasis play, although obviously not for many years, and he says he can’t wait for the moment the band comes on to the stage.
“The reaction from the fans, that’s going to be really special,” he says. “This band means so much to the North West.”
Like many people attending tonight’s concert, Sam is wearing a bucket hat.
Liam Gallagher’s iconic headgear has become a part of the band’s cultural legacy and they are certainly on display here, with street vendors popping up all around the park’s perimeter.
More from Ents & Arts
Another fan, Dean, tells me he feels incredibly lucky to have got a ticket at all.
“I had seven devices out when the tickets were released and I didn’t get one,” he says. “And then about three days ago, a friend of mine messaged to say she couldn’t make it.
“So I made it. £120 with coach travel there and back – perfect.”
Image: Dom has flown from half a world away to be in Manchester tonight
Dom is another fan who has come from Australia for the gig.
“We’re frothing to be here, like so stoked,” he says, “The atmosphere is going to be electric.”
R&B singer Chris Brown has denied further charges following an alleged bottle attack in a London nightclub.
The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) to music producer Abraham Diaw, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
Brown also denied one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place.
Image: Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Pic: PA
The Grammy-winning US musician last month pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Mr Diaw.
The attack allegedly happened at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on 19 February 2023.
The plea hearing is part of preparations for his five to seven-day trial, which is due to take place from 26 October 2026.
Brown’s co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm.
More on Chris Brown
Related Topics:
Akinlolu, a rapper who goes by the name Hoody Baby, has previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Image: Brown’s co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu arrives at court. Pic: Reuters
The defendants sat side-by-side in the dock, looking straight ahead during the hearing in London.
Around 20 fans sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday’s hearing, with several gasping as Brown walked into the courtroom.
The Go Crazy singer was able to continue with his scheduled international tour after he was freed on conditional bail in May.
He had to pay a £5m security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and then pursued to a separate area of the venue where he was punched and kicked repeatedly, Manchester Magistrates’ Court previously heard.
Brown was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on 15 May by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
Brown was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 21 May.
The singer, who rose to stardom as a teenager in 2005, won his first Grammy award for best R&B album in 2011 for F.A.M.E..
He earned his second in the same category for 11:11 (Deluxe) earlier this year.