The Eurovision Song Contest 1963 was the 8th Eurovision Song Contest. France had won the contest in 1962 but were incapable of hosting in 1963, as was their right, due to financial shortcomings. As was the case in 1960 - and as would become a tradition when smaller broadcasters could not afford to organise a contest - the BBC stepped in to save the event. Once again four countries got the famous nil points.
The host venue was the BBC Television Centre, White City, London, which opened in 1960. Two studios were used: one for the mistress of ceremonies Katie Boyle, the audience, and the scoreboard; the other for the performers and the orchestra accompanying them. Unusually, a boom microphone (normally used for drama and comedy shows) was employed - the viewer doesn't see this, so it appears as if the artists were miming to their vocals. This was not the case, but this innovation was to create a new look for the contest.
The full contest in French commentary
![](https://s2.save4k.ru/pic/kkQgKI2cGtI/mqdefault.jpg)