Apparently it's all going swimmingly!

Here's the BBC NI news team who can't wait to dive in.

Former de facto deputy prime minister David Lidington is in Northern Ireland with BBC News NI this evening.

He has said it will be "very important" Boris Johnson addresses the "anger and resentment" among unionists over the current Brexit deal - which the prime minister has said will be put through by the end of January.

"The effort needs to be made to minimise to the absolute bare bones any impositions there are to Northern Ireland," he said.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI

There seemed to be a collective sigh ringing out as the exit poll flashed across phones here.

Party staffers and counters, all glued to their screens, are trying to digest what it means.

Some of the boxes have only just started to arrive here at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, where six seats are being counted - the four Belfast seats plus South Down and East Antrim.

Last time the first seat was declared in Titanic after 2am, and the last after 4am, so counters, journalists and candidates are all in for a long night.

The first result of the night - North Down - could be as early as 1am with a steady stream of other key seats expected to be declared before 3am.

Our north west reporter Kieron Tourish says the Foyle race could come down to a "knife edge" between Sinn Féin's Elisha McCallion and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.

In 2017, Ms McCallion won the seat from SDLP's Mark Durkan by just 169 votes.

Mr Durkan was the Foyle MP for 12 years before losing his seat.

Sinn Féin's victory ended the SDLP's 34-year grip on the Foyle seat.

Can Mr Eastwood retake it?

The exit poll has predicted the Conservatives taking a bumper majority of 86 seats - something the DUP's Edwin Poots thinks could give Boris Johnson greater leverage in dealing with the EU.

Speaking to BBC News NI, he said maintaining the union will still be a priority for the government - even if it's not dependent on the DUP for its majority.

"He [Boris Johnson] can prove to be a bit stronger with Europe if he wants to push that agenda," he said.

The Conservatives are set to win an overall majority of 86 in the general election, according to an exit poll for the BBC, ITV and Sky News.

The survey taken at UK polling stations suggests the Tories will get 368 MPs - 50 more than at the 2017 election - when all the results have been counted.

Labour would get 191, the Lib Dems 13, the Brexit Party none and the SNP 55.

An exit poll is not conducted in Northern Ireland.

10pm.... and the polls have closed!

The scene in the newsroom here in Broadcasting House, Belfast... lights; camera; action - ready to roll!

We have reporters at count centres across Northern Ireland bringing us all the twists and turns of tonight's action into the wee hours.

And they need to have a little fun while they work..

BBC reporter Louise Cullen lends a little festive cheer to the count at Omagh Leisure Centre.

Nice Christmas decorations!

The polls will be closed in just over five minutes.

Results will be declared throughout the night, and we'll bring them to you here and across the BBC News NI website.

There'll also be live coverage on BBC One Northern Ireland, as well as a BBC Radio Ulster / Radio Foyle simulcast, starting now.

Make sure also to keep an eye on our twitter account @BBCNewsNI and our Facebook page.

Image source, Pacemaker

Welcome to BBC News NI's live page, bringing you all the results, as they come in, from all 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland following the first December general election in 100 years.

Stay with us throughout the night - if you can stay awake of course. Excitement is already building here in Broadcasting House in Belfast with the polls due to close at 10pm. Enjoy the ride...