In a break with tradition, for the first time in Eurovision Song Contest history the show will be hosted by three men – Oleksandr Skichko, Volodymyr Ostapchuk and Timur Miroshnychenko.
Ukraine’s public broadcaster NTU revealed the names of the hosts on Feb. 27. Eurovision is most usually hosted by a pair of presenters, a male and a female.
In contrast, at this year’s event in Kyiv in May, Skichko and Ostapchuk will host the show from the main stage. They will introduce upcoming acts, guide viewers through the show, and oversee the voting process.
The 25-year old Skichko has been working as a host since he was 15. He has hosted popular Ukrainian TV shows such as the morning program “Pidyom” (Get Up) on the Novyi Canal television channel, and “Zirkovyi Shlyah” on the Ukraina channel. Skichko shot to fame in 2010 as a stand-up comedian in the “Ukraine’s Got Talent” show – Ukraine’s version of the popular U.S. talent show.
The 32-year-old Ostapchuk has been a TV presenter for various shows on TET, Inter and First Automobile Channel, and hosted evening radio shows on Prosto Radio and Hit FM.
Ostapchuk also voiced Prince Hans in the Ukrainian-dubbed version of the hit Disney animation “Frozen.”
The third host, 30-year-old Miroshnychenko, will be working behind the scenes of the show, in so-called “green room,” where contestants wait for their turn to perform.
Miroshnychenko hosted the national finals of Eurovision this year. He also hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2013 in Kyiv. With 12 years of experience on air, Miroshnychenko has worked on more than 30 Eurovision projects in total.
Jon Ola Sand, the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said in a statement on Feb. 27 that he was “thrilled about having three hosts for this year’s contest.”
“Oleksandr (Skichko), Volodymyr (Ostapchuk), and Timur (Miroshnychenko) have a proven track record of combining humor, improvisation, and professionalism in their routines.”
Show Producer of the 2017 Eurovision Stuart Barlow said that the organizers hadn’t been looking specifically for three men, but were impressed with the three working as a team, adding that “they have a great chemistry.”
However, the decision to have three male hosts has sparked some criticism in Ukraine.
Ukrainian journalist and activist Iryna Slavinska wrote on her Facebook page on Feb. 27 that “for the first time in the history of Eurovision there will be no female presenter.”
“Yes, I am talking about the same Eurovision with the slogan “celebrate diversity,” she said.
The Eurovision press service said in a statement that the hosts were chosen in a competition of several stages. In addition to television show hosting experience, applicants had to demonstrate “knowledge of English, a sense of humor, confidence, artistry and diverse talents.”
Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Kyiv on May 9, 11 and 13 in the International Exhibition Center (15 Brovarskiy Ave.). Tickets to the Grand Final that will take place on May 13 cost Hr 1,000 – 15,999 (€ 34 – 553). Tickets for semi-final are available at www.concert.ua for Hr 766 – 9,794 (€27 – 345).
