In total, 20 nations applied across all four nations of the UK. The applicants were asked to demonstrate how they would reflect Ukrainian culture to mark their win in 2022.

The seven cities were chosen based on criteria that determined which had the capacity, capability and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity.

The second and final stage of the selection process will see the cities asked to elaborate on their bids, and the Host City will be decided by the BBC in partnership with EBU (the Ukrainian Broadcasting Union) in autumn 2022.

Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted Content, said: “We would like to thank all of the cities and regions that submitted bids to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We have seven fantastic cities who we are taking through to the next round."

"Congratulations to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield - it’s exciting to see such a breadth of bids going through from across the UK. We are committed to delivering a truly unique Song Contest that celebrates wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all its diversity.”