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.
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“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.
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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.
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.”
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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.
Movie fans are being warned they must not sing along to music in the new Wicked film.
The movie, which features British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo and American star Ariana Grande,will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 22 November.
However, according to an advisory video shown moments before the film in the US, AMC Theatres tells the audience “silence is golden” and fans should stay quiet so everyone can “enjoy the magic of movies”.
It urges people not to talk or text, adding “no singing, no wailing, no flirting, and absolutely no name calling”.
Ryan Noonan, an AMC spokesman, told IndyStar: “The Wicked pre-show spot incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show.”
Some fans have posted on social media saying they may find it difficult to resist joining in with the songs in the film, which is an interpretation of the hit Broadway and West End musical.
Part one of Wicked will be released on Friday, followed by part two in November 2025.
The movies explore the friendship between Elphaba, played by Erivo, and Glinda, portrayed by Grande, before they become estranged.
The characters come from the classic Oz stories by American author L Frank Baum – a series which also includes The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz.
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In Baum’s works, Elphaba is known as the Wicked Witch Of The West and Glinda as the Good Witch Of The South.
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Earlier this week, the stars of the movie attended the London premiere at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.
Jon M Chu, the film’s director, channelled the Emerald City of Oz in a forest green velvet suit jacket with a black bow tie and trousers, finishing the look with a pair of silver infinity glasses.
Erivo and Grande took inspiration from the original musical production, opting for black and yellow outfits respectively.
Irish actor Paul Mescal says meeting King Charles was not on his “list of priorities”.
The 28-year-old star was introduced to the reigning monarch at the Gladiator II world premiere in London last week.
The historical epic picks up 20 years after the Oscar-winning original, and marks Mescal‘s first big studio movie after success in TV and independent film, playing Roman warrior Lucius Verus.
Talking about his brush with royalty on the red carpet, Mescal told US outlet Variety he did not see it coming.
Speaking at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Mescal said: “How wild is it? It’s definitely not something that I thought was in the bingo cards.
“I’m Irish, so it’s not on the list of priorities”.
He then swiftly turned the answer to the film’s 86-year-old director, Ridley Scott, saying: “It’s an amazing thing for Ridley because I know how important that is for him.
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“So, to see his film celebrated in that context was pretty special.”
Ahead of the premiere, both Mescal and Scott had enjoyed a champagne reception at Buckingham Palace, and so were already in a celebratory mood on their arrival.
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Due to the large number of people at the event, Mescal admitted it was also hard to hear what was being said during his exchange with the King, so he was “nodding along and smiling”.
The world premiere was held in aid of the Film and TV Charity, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and marked the first premiere Charles attended as King.
The King also met with Mescal’s co-stars including Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Narcos actor Pedro Pascal.
Other celebrities to attend included actor Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.
Reviews of the film have been mixed thanks to its more-is-more attitude to CGI and OTT storylines, but there is broad agreement that audiences will leave the cinema somewhat entertained.
Sir Ridley – who cast Mescal in the role after a brief Zoom chat with the actor – told Sky News his reason for choosing him was that he saw aspects of “a young Albert Finney” in him.
The original Gladiator starred Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Australian actordoes not return for the sequel.
Joaquin Phoenix also had a starring role in the first film, which Scott later admitted he nearly walked out of.
Both Mescal and Scott have teased that they would both be up for a third film.
She said she was leaving to focus on family, but will remain part of the Radio 2 team and will give further details next year.
Announcing the news on her Tuesday show, she said: “After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
“You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?
“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”
Scott Mills will replace Ball on the breakfast show following her departure next month.
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“Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1,” he said.
“She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.”
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Hugging outside the BBC building on the day of the announcement, Ball said she was “really chuffed for my mate and really excited about it”.
Ball was the first female host of both the BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, starting at the Radio 1 breakfast show in 1998, and taking over her current Radio 2 role from Chris Evans in 2020 after he left the show.
She took a break from hosting her show over the summer, returning in September.
Ahead of her stint in radio, Ball – who is the daughter of children’s presenter Johnny Ball – co-hosted the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine show Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.
She has two children, Woody and Nelly, with her ex-husband, DJ and musician Norman Cook, known professionally as Fatboy Slim.
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Ball said in her announcement her last show towards the end of December will be “just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans”.
“While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year,” she added.
“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!”
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”
Mills, 51, got his first presenting role aged just 16 for a local station in Hampshire, and went on to present in Bristol and Manchester, before joining BBC Radio 1 in 1998.
He got his first permanent role on Radio 2 in 2022, replacing Steve Wright, after previously working as a cover presenter on the station.