As it happened: Ukraine rides wave of public support to win

Summary

Eurovision favourites Ukraine win after a resounding lead from the public vote
Their folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra asks for help for Ukrainian forces in besieged Mariupol, at the end of their song
The UK's Sam Ryder comes second in the contest - our highest position in over 20 years
Ukraine had been the favourite to win the contest, although the UK was in the lead after the jury vote
Some fans have been saying online they wanted to see fewer ballads and more bangers among the 25 entries
Switzerland gets zero votes from the public vote, but 78 from the jury

Live Reporting

Emma Saunders, Helen Bushby, Andree Massiah and Andre Rhoden-Paul

Italy – Mahmood and Blanco: Brividipublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Italy’s Mahmood is back for a second attempt at Eurovision glory, having come second in 2019 with the devilishly catchy Soldi (Money).
This time around, he’s teamed up with fellow Italian pop star Blanco for a big old ballad and, oh, the emotions run high in this one.
When they sing “I get chills, chills, chills,” I actually get chills. That’s good songwriting, folks.
Paying homage to Romaniapublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Abi in Kingston says she loves Eurovision and makes a new costume every year. For 2022, she has made a circular keyboard - from recycled materials - reminiscent of Romania's entry in 2014.
Image source, Abi Shore
Armenia - Rosa Linn: Snappublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Hailing from the small town of Vanadzor in northern Armenia, Rosa Linn wrote her deeply personal song about struggling with depression during the Covid lockdown.
She composed it in her childhood bedroom, scribbling lyrics onto post-it notes - a scene that’s recreated (in a more fantastical way) in her performance.
You won’t see this at home, but the set rotates as she sings so that the audience can always see her – even though the staging makes it seem like she only appears on stage at the end.
Presenters intelpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
David Sillito
Media and Arts correspondent
A little nugget about the presenters, Laura Pausini, Alessandro Cattelan AND Mika, two Italians and a British-Lebanese pop singer. It’s an interesting mix and before the show Mika revealed there had even been a meeting to discuss to the length of the pause between the announcement of the first two names – and Mika. The various implications of the size of the pause after the ‘and’ were, he said, discussed for some time. It’s the details that matter.
WATCH: Show opens with Give Peace a Chancepublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Media caption,
Eurovision opens with Give Peace A Chance
A poignant moment at the start of this year's contest.
Norway – Subwoolfer: Give That Wolf A Bananapublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
This song is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
According to their official biography, Subwoolfer were formed 4.5 billion years ago on the moon. Inspired to come to Earth by a “prophet called Neil” who visited them in 1969, they have written a song about the protective benefits of the banana. Because why not?
Image source, Getty Images
Mika may be speaking in French but...published at 20:40 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
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So now you know!
France - Alvan and Ahez - Fulennpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
This one could have been very different.
When electronic musician Alvan decided to record a song in Breton - a Celtic language that’s still spoken in western France - he initially asked his grandmother to record the vocals.
Later, he met folk trio Ahez in a bar (“I may have been drunk,” he admits) and persuaded them to take over singing duties.
Marine Lavigne (great name) rewrote the lyrics, basing them on an ancient Breton myth about a woman who emancipates herself from society’s expectations by dancing around a bonfire with the devil.
Which reminds me, I have somewhere to be at midnight.
WATCH: Learn how to dance like Norway's Subwoolferpublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Sophie van Brugen
Entertainment reporter
Media caption,
Subwoolfer from Norway are hoping for Eurovision success.
Moose (the dog) is waiting for Sam Ryderpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Matt & Tracyann
Matt and Tracyann in Epping, Essex, tell us: "Another year, another Eurovision, and Moose is yet again as excited as ever!"
He's so cute we don't care, carry on snoozing Moose! We're sure he'll wake up for UK entrant Sam Ryder...
Switzerland - Marius Bear: Boys Do Crypublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Next up is Marius Bear, who’s had an unbelievably convoluted journey to Eurovision.
Originally an excavator repair man, he became an officer in the Swiss army during his compulsory military service in his 20s.
“Every morning I had to give out all the orders, and one soldier of mine came to me and he was like, ‘Bro, you’ve got an amazing voice, you should be a grunge singer’”. That inspired him to become a busker, travelling through Switzerland for eight months, before he was spotted by a producer and launched his music career.
His song encourages men to discuss their emotions. In an interview with Swiss broadcaster SRF, Bear said: “I learnt very early on that I don’t need to be ashamed of my feelings. I don’t want to wear emotional armour, I want to be who I am. And I want to encourage my audience to do the same.”
'Eurovision is safe space for LGBTQ+ community'published at 20:32 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, @gastrogays
Patrick and Russell say they are delighted to be at their fifth Eurovision, watching in Turin.
The couple, from the Republic of Ireland, are rooting for Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs with no Irish finalist this year.
The Eurovision bloggers say it is too close to call re who might win.
Speaking about Eurovision's popularity with the LGBTQ+ community, they said: "Eurovision is a safe, familiar space where you can express yourself, but more than that it’s a space where you can connect with like-minded people across the continent of Europe and beyond.
"It’s so pure, and a highlight of our year!"
Finland – The Rasmus: Jezebelpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
The Rasmus are the only act in this year’s competition to have had a hit single in the UK, reaching number three with pop-punk thrash track In The Shadows, external in 2003.
Their song is co-written by US hitmaker Desmond Child, whose credits include Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer, Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca and other songs with the word Livin’ in the title. If you think it sounds like Alice Cooper’s Poison, well, that’s because Desmond wrote it, too.
Side note: the band’s set is full of giant balloons, which caused absolute chaos during rehearsals when they kept getting caught on the stage doors.
Portugal – Maro: Saudade, Saudadepublished at 20:25 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
After two slamming dance tracks, the lights come down for Portugal’s Maro, and her song Saudade, Saudade.
An intimate and genuinely moving song, it was written as a tribute to her late grandfather.
The title doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but the singer says it represents “the desire to have someone back when you know you can’t”.
“My grandfather was a very important person in my life and I miss him very much,” she says.
Excited fans in Turin thrilled as show startspublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Aaron Gardner
Eurovision superfan Aaron [sitting in the middle, with fetching blue glitter on his cheekbones] is thrilled after securing last-minute tickets to the final at Turin's PalaOlimpico.
Aaron, from the West Midlands, is joined by friends he met at three previous Eurovision Song Contests.
Tonight he is proudly waving the Union Flag in support of UK contender Sam Ryder.
Romania – WRS: Llámamepublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Get ready for the first costume reveal of the night. See those frilly sleeves? They’re going to get ripped off half-way through WRS’s Llámame, a sun-kissed song about forbidden love.
WRS is the stage name of Andrei Ursu, a 28-year-old former dancer, who says his old job helped him learn how to work the Eurovision stage.
“As a dancer, you’re a mirror reflecting the public energy,” he says. “And if you feel there’s a lack of energy on the right or on the left, you have to go there and wake them up.”
Czech Republic - We Are Domi: Lights Offpublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
We Are Domi kick things off with the MASSIVE club anthem, Lights Off, which sounds like the sort of thing Becky Hill and David Guetta knock out every couple of months.
The band formed “as a one-time thing” while studying at the Leeds Conservatoire in 2016; and their classical training means guitarist Casper Hatlestad can do things like play guitar with a bow. Fancy.
Watch out for the video screens behind the band which show a series of unusual things being done to Michaelangelo’s David, for reasons that remain unclear.
You can read a bit more about them here, and how they met at music college in Leeds.
Why is Russia not taking part?published at 20:16 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Getty Images
Tonight Eurovision stalwart Russia will be missing from your screens.
The country is banned from Eurovision due to its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Broadcasting Union, which produces the event, says the inclusion of Russia would bring the competition into disrepute "in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine".
Russia came ninth in the 2021 competition and last won the Eurovision crown in 2008.
Meet the presenterspublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, ge
We have three hosts, who will be providing a bit of entertainment as they introduce the performers - plus those all-important scores.
They are:
Laura Pausini – one of Italy’s biggest stars, Laura has sold more than 75 million records, won multiple Grammy Awards and even been nominated for an Oscar.
Alessandro Cattelan – the host of Italy’s X Factor and, more importantly, the voice of Max in the Italian dub of The Secret Life Of Pets.
Mika – International pop sensation Mika, whose first single Grace Kelly was a UK number one in 2007. Still a huge star in mainland Europe, he’s also a judge/mentor on the French version of The Voice and Italy’s X Factor.
WATCH: Italy's Eurovision hopeful Mahmood serenades his fanspublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Sophie van Brugen
Entertainment reporter
Mahmood and Blanco are representing Italy in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin.
The BBC caught up with Mahmood in the city centre where he met some of his fans and reveals his focus is on performing at his best, rather than winning.
Media caption,
Mahmood is representing Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time.