Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

A former child star, Melody scored a major European hit with “El baile del gorila” at the age of 10.

It was all about dancing like a funky gibbon, and eventually earned the singer a Grammy nomination as part of her debut album, De pata negra.

The lyrics of Esa Diva recall that success, as she sings: “Before I knew how to walk

I was the party girl of the world.”

A pumping house track with flamenco and Andalusian elements, it talks about how she grew up and learned to be humble instead of a diva.

Not that you’d know it on the Eurovision stage, where it’s made to look like her voice is so powerful it causes stone to crumble.

Fun fact: Despite the contest’s predilection for divas, only one other song has featured that word in its title – Dana International’s Diva, which won the contest for Israel in 1998.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

In the words of Katarsis’ frontman Lukas Radzevičius: “Lithuania is taking on an experiment by sending us.”

The band’s menacing rock sound is something of an outlier at a contest better known for windswept ballads and Eurodance nonsense. But the sheer intensity of Lukas’ performance swept the group into the finals earlier this week.

He says the song is open to interpretation – and lyrics about “burning houses” and “rotting foundations” could be applied to everything from the war in Ukraine to climate change and the rise of the far right.

Or maybe it’s about a deadly virus infecting Raccoon City, transforming its population into zombies… Lukas bears an uncanny resemblance to Leon S Kennedy from Resident Evil 2.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Maybe it's the fact that contestants have been rehearsing every day for the last week, but I've spotted a few vocal issues in the opening numbers.

Luxembourg's Laura Thorn had a little wobble near the start of La Poupée Monte Le Son; while Norway's Kyle Alessandro had a little rasp that wasn't present in earlier performances.

Israel's Yuval Raphael went in the other direction. Her opening verse has often felt a little fragile in run-throughs, but she was note-perfect this time.

Fluctuations like that can change the direction of the contest.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, Getty Images

The EBU, which organises the Eurovision Song Contest, has written an official warning to Spain’s national broadcaster RETV, over comments its hosts made during Thursday's semi-final.

Ahead of Israel's performance, commentators Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela referenced the country's ongoing military action in Gaza, and read out figures from the Hamas-run health authority, which said more than 50,000 Palestinians had been killed.

Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Hamas still holds 58 hostages.

In response, the EBU reminded RETV that it prohibits "political statements that could compromise the neutrality of the competition", according to a letter seen by Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"Victim figures have no place in an apolitical entertainment program whose motto, United by Music, embodies our commitment to unity," it continues.

The letter warned Spain not to repeat the claims in tonight's broadcast, and warned that RETV would face fines if the rules are broken.

But just before tonight's programme started, RETV broadcast a message in support of Palestine, which they then shared on social media.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

When Hamas attacked Israel’s Nova Music Festival on 7 October, 2023, Yuval Raphael went from dancing with her friends to hiding in a bomb shelter.

For hours, she played dead under a pile of bodies as gunmen came and went. When she survived, she vowed to live her life to the fullest.

“I wished for myself just to be happy and to really understand the gift that I have been given – that is, to live,” she told the BBC earlier this week.

It’s hard not to interpret her song, New Day Will Rise, in the light of those experiences. “Life will go on,” she sings in the stirring chorus. “Everyone cries / Don’t cry alone.”

However, her presence at the contest has been a source of controversy due to Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza. Triggered by those attacks on 7 October, it has so far claimed more than 50,000 lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Earlier this week, one of Yuval’s rehearsals was briefly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors. She told the BBC she’d practised singing to the sound of booing in case it happens again tonight.

Voting is already under way, but in case you need a reminder about how a country is crowned the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, we've broken it down for you here:

• After all songs have been performed, each country will give two sets of points
• The first set is awarded by a jury of five music industry professionals, while the other comes from viewers at home
• Viewers from participating countries can vote by telephone, SMS*, through the official app and at esc.vote, external
• Importantly, you cannot vote for your own country.
• Previously, the public couldn’t vote until all the participants had performed. But now, voting opens just before the first song is performed
• Additionally, fans in non-participating countries now have nearly 24 hours to vote for their favourite songs before the live show begins
• Once the voting window has closed (about half an hour after the final song), the spokesperson for all participating countries will reveal their jury points live on air
• Viewers' points from all participating countries are then added up, and revealed from the lowest to the highest
• This leads to the nail-biting result, which will reveal the winner of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest

*As a reminder, UK viewers aren't able to vote by SMS

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP to Getty Images

Some of you may be aware that Tommy Cash was the younger brother of outlaw country star Johnny Cash. Estonia’s entry, it’s fair to say, is not that…

A pop provocateur and performance artist, his previous credits include the Charli XCX song Click; and the solo track Untz Untz, which soundtracked a film about the “sex Olympics”.

His Eurovision entry is decidedly more family-friendly – a simple ode to Italian coffee culture, featuring the indelible lyric: “No stresso, no stresso, no need to be depresso”.

Inspired by a trip to Capri, where he heard tarantella music playing in local cafés, it’s co-written by Johannes Naukkarinen, who previously wrote Karijaa’s Eurovision classic Cha Cha Cha.

Watch out for his noodle-limbed dance moves and a “stage invasion” from an obsessive fan. You’re going to love it a latte.

As a reminder, you can also listen to the Eurovision grand final on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 2.

There Rylan Clark and Scott Mills are bringing the vibes with their commentary through the night.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Laura Thorn makes the best use of tonight’s massive LED stage, as you’ll find out in the eye-catching opening to her song, La Poupée Monte Le Son.

A delightfully kitsch throwback to 1960s pop, her song is an update to France Gall’s 1965 winning entry for Luxembourg - Poupée de cire, poupée de son, written by Serge Gainsbourg.

Where that song was all about a woman being controlled, marionette-style, by a man hiding in the shadows; Laura’s version is about taking back control.

"If you think a man like you can manipulate me, go back to your mum," she scolds.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

And with the first performance under way, you can now vote - although not for your own country of course.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

At 19, Kyle is this year’s youngest competitor.

His singing career began in 2016, when he learned all the songs from that year’s Eurovision Song Contest and performed them in a karaoke bar on holiday.

His entry, Lighter, was written for his mum.

“She got diagnosed with cancer two years ago, and she told me to never lose my light,” he explains. “That’s where lighter comes from.”

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Graham Norton just told us during his commentary on BBC One that Celine Dion may make an appearance tonight.

She made a rare appearance during the first semi-final of the contest on Tuesday with a brief, pre-recorded message.

All you Eurovision fans will know she also won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, and it had been rumoured she would take the stage during this year's contest.

Nothing is confirmed, but we will of course keep you posted!

Graham also just said this has been the "best flag parade ever", adding: "I'm calling it - the Swiss can do a flag parade!"

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, Getty Images

We’ve already met the hosts but, heck, let’s do it properly. For the next four hours, we’re in the capable hands of…

• Hazel Brugger: A Swiss-German comedian and slam poetry champion, whose chaotic energy and awkward audience interactions have been a highlight of the semi-finals
• Sandra Studer: Switzerland’s 1991 Eurovision contestant, she took fifth place with her song, Canzone per te, and went on to become one of Switzerland’s most in-demand TV presenters
• Michelle Hunziker: Fluent in Italian, German, French, English, and Dutch, Michelle started out as a model before fronting prime-time TV shows like Zelig and Wetten, dass..? One of the highest-paid women in Switzerland, she’s also created headlines by speaking out about her escape from a cult called Warriors of Light

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Military drummers in traditional Swiss attire herald the beginning of the flag parade – a relatively new tradition.

For the next 10 minutes or so, we’ll see each of the 26 contestants shashay down the runway, twirl for the camera and try not to fall over.

Every act tries to differentiate themselves by waving their flag in a unique way, without doing anything that would call their national pride into question – e.g. pulling it out of their throat like a magician.

This is all set to a thumping dance beat, courtesy of Swiss music legends Yello. What’s not to love?

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, Getty Images

Swiss singer Nemo is back to reprise their winning song from 2024, The Code.

The arena is bathed in white light as the 25-year-old performs an amped-up version of the pop-opera anthem, wearing what appears to be a wedding dress.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the contest, Nemo said that winning Eurovision in Malmo last year "turned my life upside down in the best way possible”.

"The most important thing was [that] I gained a lot of self confidence in myself as an artist.

"It adds a level of relaxation to the creation process, because I know I can trust my gut when it comes to writing songs and performance."

Read the full interview here.

"Good evening, Basel," he shouts, as the grand final gets underway.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

The Eurovision fanfare rings out in Basel, which means the 2025 song contest is underway.

Get ready for a night of spandex, sparkles and saunas, as 26 countries take the stage in pursuit of your precious, precious votes.

But wait… where’s the Eurovision trophy?

In the opening sketch, our hosts discover the grand prize has gone missing – triggering an Ethan Hunt-style impossible mission to deliver it to St Jakobshalle arena in time.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, PA Media

Graham Norton is leading the BBC One’s coverage of Eurovision for the 17th time.

The comedian and presenter has been busting jokes as commentator for UK audiences since he replaced the late, great Sir Terry Wogan in 2009.

When he's not watching Eurovision, Graham can be found presenting The Graham Norton Show, or judging the acts on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Seb Cheer
Reporting from the Eurovision Village in Basel

Image source, Seb Cheer/BBC

I'm not sure organisers in Basel expected the Eurovision fan village to be quite so popular tonight, as the queue is looooong.

A couple of friends and I are hoping to get in about 90 minutes after we joined the back, so we'll probably get into the screening after the show starts. We'll definitely see the end...one of the advantages of a long Eurovision grand final!

I think it demonstrates how much Basel has got behind this event. From the moment we arrived at the main station this morning there have been posters, flags and glitter in abundance!

The atmosphere in the queue is great (the karaoke tram has just gone past!) and it's very well organised, so who cares if we have to catch up on the start later? That's what iPlayer is for!

Newly-weds Matthew and Olivia are big fans of Eurovision.

Matthew writes: "Me and my wife took a break from our honeymoon in Italy to watch both Eurovision semi-finals!

"Excited to watch the final with some British tapas back at home tonight We're behind Finland for the win!"

And in Glasgow, Alex, Helen, James and Avery are having a Eurovision watch party - with some special dinner plans.

"In true Swiss style, we've prepared a huge fondue and are ready to eat our bodyweight in cheese," they tell the BBC. "Rooting for Denmark, Austria, Finland, Malta, Armenia and Albania!!!"

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, EPA

Luxembourg have the unlucky second spot - no-one has ever won in that position, but nine countries have come last!

The UK's eighth position isn't ideal either. It’s right before one of the hot favourites, Austria, which may overshadow Remember Monday in the televote although we're feeling hopeful about the jury vote - those fabulous harmonies are bound to impress!

Surely the EBU missed a trick by not letting the Hampshire gals close the show - What the Hell Just Happened? is the perfect question for viewers wondering what they've just witnessed after the four-hour whirlwind that is Eurovision!

Meanwhile, Finland are in 13th - unlucky for some but not in this case. It’s the coveted last spot before the interval.

Being in the last quarter of the competition is often advantageous, as fans at home are more likely to remember the later songs than those in the early part of the contest. So that will be music to the ears of hot favourite Sweden (23rd) and another serious contender France (24th).