Well that was a blast!

But the night is drawing to a close for us now and we're going to finish up our coverage now.

If you're still in the party mood - you can watch back on iPlayer - you'll find the link above.

Here's a reminder who made it through to the Grand Final on Saturday.

Image source, .

And we'll get to do it all again on Thursday for the second semi, where the second 10 places for the final will be awarded.

We hope you can join us then and in the meantime why not check out our guide to the countries still in the competition, here.

Host Alesha Dixon performs a rap on Eurovision's history, bringing back memories of her time in her old group, Mis-teeq.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, RTE

This wasn't the year to bring a guitar to Eurovision. All five of the eliminated acts were either a group or a duo.

Ireland's Wild Youth (pictured) and Lativa's Sudden Lights are both indie-rock bands, whose Coldplay-esque anthems failed to connect.

Azerbaijan's TuralTuranX said their song was inspired by Britpop but their performance lacked the acidic energy of Oasis in their prime.

For me, Malta was the biggest surprise. Their saxophonic party anthem Dance (Our Own Party) was a goofy slice of disco-funk, but coming second in the running order is a well-known Eurovision curse.

Meanwhile, Dutch duo Dion Cooper and Mia Nicolas looked a bit lost up on that stage. In a year with so many strong, charismatic performers (we're looking at you, Noa Kirel), they were always in danger of relegation.

For Ireland, the loss will have a particular sting. The country has gone from being Eurovision's most successful nation to permanent also-rans: They've failed to qualify on eight of their last 10 attempts.

Andre Rhoden-Paul
reporting from Eurovision Village

Wow, that was a tense one for these Norwegian fans.

Jonathan Nilson, from Oslo, and his friends screamed in delight after learning their country had bagged the final place.

"I almost died. I travelled from Oslo and it would have been so boring and I would have spent all this money.

"This is most exciting way to go into a final. It can't get more exciting than that."

On his country's chances of winning, he says being honest he is not sure Alessandra's Queen of Kings will win.

So who is this Eurovision super-fan's money on? "Sweden, Finland or France."

Oh the drama of it all!

The first semi-final is over in Liverpool - and we're dusting down our sequins.

Here's what you might have missed, in 60 seconds.

(Be warned, as you probably expect with Eurovision, there are a lot of flashing images.)

So we've got our 10 finalists from tonight - but what do our group of international superfans think about the results?

Oksana from Ukraine says "Serbia is a surprise for sure" while Nicky has gone starry-eyed for Switzerland.

Maria says "Portugal is a surprise for me" and there were heart emojis for Moldova.

And very kindly, Oksana says: "The UK has done truly a great job, giving Ukraine such a powerful stage to be represented fairly."

Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from Eurovision Village

Jake, Louise, Charlotte and Luke are friends from the South East.

They’ve been in the fan village all day and I asked them about the vote outcome.

Jake was adamant that Latvia should have got through. Luke and Charlotte were betting on Loreen for Sweden and they saw the Swedish Eurovision national final over there.

Louise said: “I’m all for Finland and Norway! I’m here for the girls.”

The group thought Malta might have got through. They thought Finland, Sweden and Norway were definitely getting through and the others were uncertain.

I asked them about this being the first time it’s gone entirely to public vote. Luke said: “It should be a mixed vote in the final and the fans should choose who goes to the final. It’ll make it interesting this year."

Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, in the arena

Six thousand fans were chanting Norway as the final place was to be decided.

I think there would have been uproar in here if the show’s opener hadn’t qualified.

Disappointment for five acts though.

Malta’s The Busker high fived their team in the green room.

Ireland’s Wild Youth front man shook hands with his band and team before walking out, clearly dejected at the result.

It was a tough semi-final, but it is a contest.

Ireland now can’t defend their record seven wins, and the current favourite Loreen for Sweden could match it on Saturday.

Måns Zelmerlöw
Eurovisioncast Host

What a semi final that was. I am so happy but also very, very astonished with Serbia and Moldova getting through to the final.

Very, very happy for Norway, Sweden and Finland obviously. Scandinavian countries that all did amazingly tonight. Also Czechia, they’ve just grown and grown and grown.

I think that the show, in all, was amazing. The interval acts were great and the opening, I cried again!

Listen to Måns Zelmerlöw and the rest of the Eurovisioncast hosts react to the show on BBC Sounds later tonight.

Image source, .

Those not making it through are:

Ireland, Malta, Azerbaijan, Latvia and the Netherlands.

Portugal

Sweden

Serbia

Norway

Finland

Czechia

Israel

In no particular order - the first countries with a place in Saturday's final are:

Croatia

Moldova

Switzerland

Image source, Getty Images

Stay with us!

Andre Rhoden-Paul
reporting from Eurovision Village

Die-hard Eurovision fans, without tickets for the arena, are braving the cold now in the fan zone by the famous Royal Albert Docks.

Many have gone home due to the dip in temperature.

But, those left are staring at the screen intensely waiting for the results to be announced.

Image source, Getty Images

As we wait for tonight's results, here's a look back at the eveing so far:

• The first 15 acts have performed in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool - ten will make it through to Saturday's final
• Israel's Noa Kirel turned up the heat with her track Unicorn and Sweden's former winner Loreen took the arena by storm with Tattoo - the bookmaker's favourite
• Finnish singer Käärijä brought a slightly unhinged hyperpop ensemble to the stage with his song Cha Cha Cha and Croatia performed an anti-war song with Mama SC!
• Rita Ora performed a medley of some of her biggest hits and Rebecca Ferguson and Ukranian singer Alyosha sang a heartrending version of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World

Mark Savage
Watching in the venue

Right now, you’re seeing clips of France, Germany and Italy - who automatically qualify for the final, thanks to their generous financial contribution to Eurovision.

The performances were filmed (in full) during last night’s dress rehearsal, giving the acts a chance to practice in front of a live audience.

France’s La Zarra was magnificently wheeled on and off the stage atop a giant pneumatic ballgown; gaining an enthusiastic whoop from the audience.

Germany’s Lord Of The Lost brought the dynamics of an arena rock show to the Eurovision stage, although frontman Chris Harms apparently ran out of money before he could afford a right leg for his PVC catsuit.

And Italy’s Marco Mengoni made a few hearts flutter in hus custom-made Versace outfit: A nude effect tulle top with hand-embroidered pearls and beads in degradé colors, from brilliant crystal to black, and faux leather trousers with the same embroidery on the right hip. (According to Vogue Italy, that is. I haven’t got a clue).

We’ll get the chance to see all of these performances in full at the Grand Final on Saturday.

Marta Shokalo
Editor, BBC Ukrainian Service

Eurovision is fun, but on so many occasions I had tears in my eyes being here in Liverpool.

I'm deeply touched by how city is hosting the show on behalf of Ukraine. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many Ukrainian flags elsewhere apart from Ukraine.

I don’t feel like a guest here at all.

Today I was meeting my former colleague. We were separated by war and haven’t seen each other for a year.

We were sitting and chatting in pub when guy came to us and asked us where we were from.

When he heard we were from Ukraine he brought us two pints and said Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine).

I was lost for words.