Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Rice is a pleasant young chap we would love to see do well with his uplifting ballad Bigger Than Us.

But the organisers have done him no favours putting him after Norway's euphoric performance.

Bigger Than Us, which begins with Rice looking awfully lonely alone on a very big stage, looks muted and under-powered in contrast, even after he is joined by five gospel singers.

Not only that, but what's coming up next - Iceland's Hatari - might wipe it from voters' minds altogether.

By the way, 21-year-old Michael wasn't even born the last time the UK won Eurovision in 1997.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Norway

Norwegian trio KEiiNO was formed last year and comprises of Tom Hugo, Alexandra Rotan and rapper Fred Buljo.

All of them are fab, but it’s the latter's joik - a traditional song form performed by the Sami people of northern Scandinavia - that makes their act truly memorable.

The mix of Nordic folk and pounding disco makes Spirit in the Sky one of the more striking numbers in this year's competition.

The song - whose writers include Hugo's husband Alex Olsson - also has some wonderfully barking lyrics about running with demons and dancing with fairies.

Image source, Jamie Gater

Jamie Gater sent us this lovely photo of a child with a Union Flag painted on his face, so we know who he's rooting for.

The Onions family from Shrewsbury also got in touch - they asked us to tell you they're sitting ready with scorecards and gin and tonics and are feeling optimistic: "Fingers crossed for the UK." They signed it: Matt, Cathryn & Maddison xx

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, EPA

Kobi Marimi looks genuinely delighted in his Mr Peabody dickie-bow to be representing his country in the city he was born in, with an operatic ballad called Home.

If you enjoyed seeing Captain Netta jet in earlier on, by the way, last year's winner will be back later to sing her latest single.

Image source, EPA

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, EPA

Female fencers, epic epualettes and dancers dressed as yellow dusters ensure Greece's entry is quite the visual feast.

There's also a spot of the Jess Glynnes about Montreal-born singer Katerine Duska's impressive, if rather nasal, vocal gymnastics.

Better Love, which Duska co-wrote with Fame Academy alumnus David Sneddon in just two weeks, is a soaring anthem that largely consists of its title being continuously repeated.

Fans of The Prisoner, meanwhile, will appreciate the large white balloon that gets thrown into the audience.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Duncan Laurence has been favourite to win for months with Arcade, a heartfelt piano ballad about a failed romance.

Seated alone at a keyboard in the middle of the stage, he lets his song - and the occasional smouldering glance - do all the talking.

The only flourish is a spherical chandelier that descends from the rafters when the tune hits peak poignancy.

The Netherlands has won the contest on four occasions, though one of those wins was down to a never-repeated four-way tie.

Image source, Paula

Paula in Fyvie tells us she's "having a great time. Feeling the euro vision vibes. Xxx".

Lovely to see you're remembering Sir Terry Wogan too.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, AFP

Despite entering Eurovision a whopping 35 times, Cyprus has yet to notch up a single victory.

But they keep on coming back and have another credible song on their hands this year in catchy floor-filler Replay.

With her thigh-high boots, suspenders and wet-look gamine crop, Georgia-born singer Tamta Goduadze seems to be inviting comparisons with headline act Madonna.

Her performance, meanwhile, includes a Velcro-assisted garment remove that calls to mind those legendary Bucks Fizz skirts.

Cyprus finished an impressive second last year with Fuego, a dance track with which Replay shares two songwriters and a lot more besides.

The Google News Initiative has tracked searches for Eurovision entrants from outside their home country to find out who would be the winner, external if that was the way the contest was decided.

Image source, Charles Pottle and Julian McDougall

Charles Pottle is enjoying a drink with friends in Italy, while Julia McDougall is about to have a large slice of his Eurovision cake. We're jealous!

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Amidst this year's fiery spectacle, tight choreography and slick computer graphics, the studied minimalism of Slovenia's entry comes as a blessed relief.

Real-life couple Zala Kralj and Gasper Santl remain stock still throughout Sebi, a lo-fi slice of melancholy electronica whose title means Oneself.

Lorde-alike Zala and tousel-haired Gaspar met through Instagram in 2017 and became a duo on and off stage.

Slovenia have yet to win Eurovision and have only two seventh-place finishes to show for their 24 years of participation.

Graham Norton has just toasted the late, great broadcaster and Eurovision host Sir Terry Wogan, for song number nine from Sweden - he always toasts him at this point in the contest. Cheers Graham!

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Too Late For Love is a soaring slice of polished pop from a country who always pull it out of the bag when Eurovision comes around.

They've won the contest six times, most recently with Mans Zelmerlow’s Heroes, external in 2015, and have only failed to qualify for the final once.

Small wonder they've been tipped to do well again this year, with presenter Rylan Clark-Neal among those predicting at least a top five finish.

John Lundvik was born in London and was adopted by Swedish ex-pats when he was a baby. He went on to be a champion sprinter before becoming a singer.

He also co-wrote the UK's song this year but chose to sing this one because it suited his voice better.

Zelmerlow will be on the show later as part of an all-star segment featuring previous contest favourites, while Rylan will reveal the UK's votes: "This is Rylan calling!"

Image source, Anna McMurray

In another reader's photo, there's a big old sweepstake going on in the McMurray household in east London, with a HUGE £4 up for grabs, folks!

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Tamara Todevska is no stranger to Eurovision. She was part of a trio who sang for what was then the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2008 and has been a backing singer on two other occasions.

Now she finally gets the spotlight to herself with Proud, a rousing anthem to female self-empowerment she dedicates to her daughter Hana "and everyone out there fighting for their dreams".

Multiple projections seem to be very in much in vogue this year, as shown by the six Tamaras she has behind her.

North Macedonia's appearance in the Eurovision final comes just a few months on from the country's new name being approved by the international community.

Image source, Raphael Cohen

Aah, Raphael Cohen sent us this picture - who are the puppy and baby voting for?

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, EPA

The biggest surprise of Tuesday's first semi-final was undoubtedly the moment San Marino was named among the qualifiers.

The tiny republic has only made the final once before, so it was quite the shock when 54-year-old Serhat went through.

With its disco stylings, trite lyrics and shorts-wearing backing dancers, Na Na Na is Eurovision at its unabashedly cheesiest.

Before he became a singer, Serhat graduated as a dentist from Istanbul University. Maybe they should put up a plaque.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

If Amelie had a playlist, Denmark's entry Love is Forever would definitely be on it.

A quirky, perky paean to love sung in four different languages, it comes with a massive chair that makes 20-year-old skater-turned-singer Leonora look like one of The Borrowers.

You’d have trouble getting that thing back from Ikea, even if it did come in a flat pack. And don’t even think about the table that goes with it.

Co-writer Lise Cabble also pitched in on Only Teardrops, the song that brought Denmark their last win in 2013.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Russia have a heavy hitter this year in homegrown superstar Sergey Lazarev, who came third when he last competed in 2016.

They'll be hoping for the same if not better with Scream, a dramatic ballad Lazarev performs before a wall of mirrors that gradually take on lives of their own.

At one point, the 35-year-old former gymnast stands behind one of those rain windows Joey had in his apartment in Friends.

Lazarev's other interests include a canine treats business called Poodle-Strudel, which really does take the biscuit.

Neil Smith
Entertainment reporter at the Eurovision Song Contest

Image source, Getty Images

Some people are not happy about Israel hosting this year's contest.

Earlier this year a group of British artists called for the event to be relocated on human rights grounds.

There have also been campaigns on social media.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has been using social media to oppose holding the contest in Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians

It accuses Israel of trying to whitewash (“artwash”) discrimination, which it likens to apartheid, the system of racial segregation once used in South Africa.

Another London-based group has created their own version, external of The Village People's YMCA in an attempt to persuade the BBC's Graham Norton to give up his role as commentator.

In Dublin, meanwhile, Irish broadcaster RTE has faced repeated requests not to broadcast the competition, with one group using the sides of buses to put their point across.

There have also been reports of protests in Jerusalem this week by ultra-orthodox Jews who believe holding the contest on a Saturday desecrates the Jewish sabbath.

One Israeli act turned down a chance to compete in the event on the same religious grounds.