Eurovision 2023: A very political song contest

Eurovision 2023: A very political song contest

Author: The Times May 12, 2023 Duration: 27:59

The UK is holding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine which won last year but can’t fulfil its hosting duties because of the war. So what can we expect? What role is Eurovision playing in the war effort? And why have cyber security experts been drafted in?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

  • Tom Ball, northern correspondent, The Times. 
  • Tina Karol, Ukrainian celebrity, singer and philanthropist.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: Eurovision Song Contest; BBC; SKY; Crossroads news; Tyler Rumple; Channel 4; Mojo; Russia Today; Vice; WiWibloggs; Kyivstar; European Broadcasting Union; Eurovision Network; Charity Concerts for Ukraine; Voice of Peace; Kyivstar TV / The Voice Ukraine / Namalyuyu tobi zori / Dimash Daulyetov.

Music clips:

Show Me Your Love / Mikhail Nekrasov, Tina Karol, Pavlo Shylko / Lavina Music.

Hard Rock Hallelujah / Miss Awa, Mr. Amen, Mr. Kalma, Mr Kita, Mr Lordi / Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Oi u luzi chervona kalyna / Andriy Khlivnyuk / Volodymyr Antonovych, Mykhailo Drahomanov.

Waterloo / ABBA / Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson / Polar / Epic / Polydor / Atlantic.

Ukrainian national anthem (State Anthem Of Ukraine) / Ukrainian opera singers / Mykhailo Verbytsky, Pavlo Chubynsky.

Baila El Chiki Chiki / Rodolfo Chikilicuatre and friends / ARD Entertainment.

Stefania / Kalush Orchestra / Ihor Didenchuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, Ivan Klymenko / Sony.

Heart of Steel / TVORCHI / Jimoh Augustus Kehinde, Andrii Hutsuliak / Independent. 

Refrain / Lys Assia / Géo Voumard, Émile Gardaz / Decca.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Investigation: One bruise and they took the baby away [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:55
If one day, you saw your newborn baby with a little bruise you couldn't explain, what would you do? Many people like Holly Kobayashi would ask a professional for advice and reassurance. Instead Holly set in motion a proc…
Guns, skis and corruption: Biathlon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:54
Three years ago, a dramatic raid at the headquarters of a popular winter sports blew open a scandal at the International Biathlon Union. The former president, Anders Besseberg, has been accused of receiving gifts in retu…
How China uses LinkedIn to steal state secrets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
The Times has uncovered that spies are creating fake business profiles on the professional networking site so that they can identify targets and obtain classified information. Under fake profiles, agents offer money and…
Past Imperfect: Nadiya Hussain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:54
In this special bonus edition we are bringing you an episode from another Times podcast - Past Imperfect.Nadiya Hussain MBE rose to fame after winning The Great British Bake Off back in 2015. She talks to Rachel Sylveste…
It's a Sin: Should gay roles be reserved for gay actors? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:13
Before Channel 4's hit series It's Sin was broadcast, writer Russell T Davies made headlines for his comments on how the show was cast. Should LGBTQ+ roles only be played by those with a lived experience? Or is that in i…
How Russia's vaccine disinformation war backfired [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
In October, a Stories of our times investigation blew the lid off a Russian disinformation campaign, which had aimed to stoke fears about the Oxford vaccine.Now Russia has its own vaccine, Sputnik, which is highly effect…
A lockdown exit strategy: Lessons from Israel and Australia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:47
On Monday the prime minister will unveil a roadmap for how we exit lockdown. Today we look to two countries which might show us a glimpse of the future: Australia and Israel.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the…
Post-Brexit Britain 2021: Who do we think we are? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
It's been over a year since the UK officially left the EU on the 31st of January 2020 in a vote which was fuelled by decades of British Euroscepticism. With terms like 'remainer' and 'Brexiteer' now holding less signific…
Afghanistan's road to peace: Murder in Kabul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:17
Last month, a team of assassins shot and killed two of Afghanistan’s most eminent women. The murder of the two Supreme Court judges is part of an assassination campaign targeting Kabul’s intellectual and social elite. Ye…