Darlington and Newcastle will stage live events as part of the Eurovision grand final next month.

The BBC has announced a host of locations across the country which will join in official Eurovision celebrations with live events on the day of the grand final on May 13.

Taking place in Liverpool the final will be broadcast on BBC One with official large scale screenings to take place in Darlington and Newcastle.

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Official screenings will also be held in Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Both Darlington and Newcastle announced bids to host the contest after it was confirmed the UK would host it on Ukraine’s behalf.

Short-lived plans would have seen a roof constructed over Darlington’s Mowden Park Arena to stage the contest there, but they failed to get off the ground after missing out on the shortlist.

And while Newcastle made it to the shortlist alongside Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, plans to host the event at the Utilita Arena lost out to Liverpool.

Martin Green CBE, BBC Managing Director of Eurovision Song Contest said: “We’re thrilled to roll out Eurovision to more UK cities. So many people here are huge Eurovision fans and for those new to the Contest they will get to experience the joy of watching the Grand Final surrounded by thousands of others right there in their local city.”

Each city taking part will schedule their own programme of events with each releasing more details over the coming weeks.

These live events build on the previously announced partnership with CinemaLive which takes the Grand Final into more than 500 cinema screens across the UK.

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The live events are also being supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who are providing over £1m in funding for screens in more than 30 towns and cities, including £45,000 for Darlington, for people to watch the King’s Coronation and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision Minister Stuart Andrew said: "Eurovision is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together through music and our big screens will create a party atmosphere where no one will sing alone.

“This competition is not just about Liverpool but making sure we celebrate what unites us and showcasing our steadfast support for Ukraine. We are bringing the Eurovision Song Contest to people's doorsteps so we can all take part in this historic moment and enjoy the magic of Eurovision as one.”