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Good Morning Now I’m certainly not claiming to have the gift of prophecy, but I did confidently predict on this programme last year that Kalush Orchestra would win the Eurovision Song Contest for Ukraine and that the UK would not be far behind! Having won it, I fully understand why President Zelensky [of Ukraine] would have preferred tonight’s contest to be closer to the homeland. There has, nevertheless, been a huge buzz for days in and around Liverpool – cementing unique links between Ukraine, the United Kingdom and other countries. For a start, choosing Liverpool as the host city was inspired. As well as football – music and faith are two other words most associated with the deeply diverse culture which the city is famous for. I grew up with vivid memories of Liverpool’s various Christian denominations working together to improve people’s lives. Led by the then catholic Archbishop Derek Worlock and the former England cricket captain David Sheppard who became Bishop of Liverpool, their [ecumenical] mantra was we are “better together” - an example largely followed by the community there ever since. It's surely indisputable that music also brings people together in creative ways. It is one of the main reasons why, from the earliest times, music plays such a significant role in worship. In the book of psalms there are lots of examples of music as a catalyst for expressing people’s inner-most fears and hopes. In the bible this is through singing, performing with a range of musical instruments, dancing and, as everyone took part, even (as in Psalm 47) the clapping of hands. Music has huge spiritual benefits for all ages and certainly helps bring us out of ourselves. The theme of tonight’s Eurovision is United by Music. On everyone’s mind are the people of Ukraine. All peace-loving people are surely united in a profound sense of hope, that after so much unimaginable suffering and loss of life. the war will soon come to an end. Tetiana Naimanova was forced to leave Ukraine and is now living not far from Liverpool. She said this week that the focus on unity has brought her and other Ukrainians a great deal of happiness. She added that their hope is for a lasting legacy “having people around the world, around Europe, coming here and discovering [she said] that Ukraine is so special”. United by music and Better Together sum up for me a perfect lasting legacy for tonight’s unique Eurovision extravaganza.