Pop icon Mika among the hosts at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest

Noughties pop icon Mika will be one of the hosts of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest when it hits the stage in Italy.

The Grace Kelly singer will be joined by Alessandro Cattelan and Laura Pausini in Turin at the annual competition, which is now in its 66th year.

Mika has chart success in the late noughties with his album Life In Cartoon Motion, which featured massive hits such as Love Today and Lollipop, and went on to be a judge on the Italian version of the X-Factor.

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Alt-rockers Maneskin won last year’s competition in Rotterdam with the track Zitti E Buoni, meaning Italy would host the contest this year.

The grand final is due to take place on 14 May, with the semi-finals in the week building up to it.

“Introducing your Hosts for #Eurovision 2022!” the official Eurovision Song Contest account tweeted.

“Laura Pausini, Alessandro Cattelan and Mika will welcome the world to Turin on 10, 12, and 14 May! Benvenuti!”

The Big Girls singer said it was an “exciting honour” to host Eurovision, adding: “I’ve been watching it since I was a kid, the whole family would get together for the Grand Final.

“Once a year, more than 40 countries share the same emotions, regardless of history or the political situation: music unites them.

“It’s an exciting honour to be one of the masters of ceremony on these fantastic nights.”

The Lebanese-British performer is set to have a busy year, with a planned tour around the US and an appearance at Coachella.

His co-host Pausini is described as “possibly the most highly regarded Italian recording artist in the world” by organisers, having won a Grammy, Latin Grammys and even an Oscar nomination.

Cattelan is a popular television host in Italy, previously joining up with Mika on The X-Factor.

National selections for songs are well underway for this year’s contest, with the UK opting to work with music management companies to pick its track, after scoring the dreaded nil points last year.