Calls are being made for Nottingham to put its hat in the ring to host next year's Eurovision. Key city leaders say putting on the showpiece event will put Nottingham on the map and highlight what it has to offer.
"Nottingham is just as diverse as London. I think there are very few cities in the country that are as welcoming as Nottingham. It has been reported that the successful UK city will need to have a venue with capacity for 10,000 spectators that is available for lengthy rehearsals, and have the ability to host thousands of journalists, plus easy access to an international airport. A longlist is due to be published later this summer.
Liz Cartwright, managing director of Cartwright Communications, said: "We have got just as good a chance as anybody else. Nottingham is central to the UK, close to the airport.The possibility sparked hope and anticipation in Nottingham, with Council leader David Mellen adding: "Clearly this is not Britain's Eurovision, this is Ukraine's Eurovision, so we will be hosting it on behalf of Ukraine.
Michael Holod, branch chair at Nottingham's Association of Ukrainians in GB, has also voiced his excitement on behalf of the community, adding: "Whatever you think of Eurovision, it is an event that brings people together through music. We had an event at the centre where Ukrainians in Nottingham came together to watch Eurovision.
Danny Semak, general manager at Fox and Grapes which is just a stone's throw from Nottingham's biggest venue, said the possibility could "put the city on the map".