Ten acts have made it through the first Eurovision semi-final in Liverpool and will compete in Saturday's grand final
Finland's Käärijä, Sweden's Loreen and Israel's Noa Kirel are among them
Fifteen acts competed in this semi-final and each one performed on stage in front on the 6,000-strong audience earlier
Those not making it through are Ireland, Malta, Azerbaijan, Latvia and the Netherlands
We also had a performance from Liverpool's own Rebecca Ferguson with Ukraine's singer Alyosha, and a medley from Rita Ora
Six countries are already through to Saturday's show - the big five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) and last year's winners Ukraine
Ukraine should be this year's host - but the war means they cannot - so the UK will host on their behalf
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
Image source, ReutersMia and Dion sing their song to each other, with lots of close-ups and gentle dance moves, but not much action.
They’re in sync with matching black and silver pinstripe outfits, but the focus is on the lyrics, as they sing about saying “goodbye old life” and shedding past difficulties.
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/ESC Digital EBUUp next, we have boy-girl duo Dion Cooper and Mia Nicolai, whose song is entitled Burning Daylight. But can daylight really be burned?
It’s electromagnetic radiation, not a piece of toast. (It’s possible I’m getting distracted as we reach the home stretch of the semi-final.)
Anyway, this is a perfectly serviceable ballad, co-written by former Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence.
Dion and Mia have superb chemistry, considering they were only brought together for the contest, and the staging is kept simple to focus your attention on their vocals… and larger questions of physics and the fundamental constituents of the universe.
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
Image source, ReutersWe’re loving the pink suits and ridiculously long hair plaits the six-piece female group Vesna use as props, swirling them around throughout their assured performance of My Sister’s Crown.
The choreography, featuring some staccato puppet-like moves, is impressive although there are some disturbing visuals on the LED screen featuring hands pawing at what looks like a window.
Vesna, representing Czechia, the name the Czech Republic enters Eurovision as, will be hoping to make it through from the semi-final and better the 22nd position achieved by We Are Domi last year.
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Chloe Hashemi/ESC Digital EBUI have a real soft-spot for this song, by Czech-Bulgarian-Ukrainian-Slovakian girl group Vesna.
An anthem of sisterly solidarity, it combines Balkan melodies, choral harmonies and a cantering hip-hop beat to create a sound that’s both spiritual and unique.
“The inspiration was our band, in which six personalities with different abilities and opinions work together,” says singer Patricia Fuxová.
“Because we respect and support each other, it's amazing to play together.”
Dressed in stunning blush pink costumes, the band have taken the age-old tradition of Eurovision hair choreography to a new extreme. Watch and see…
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, in the arena
It takes about two songs after the acts perform for them to make it back to their team to watch the rest of the show at the back of the arena.
They are sitting in front of the stage, in small booths, illuminated around the top and sides. They all have their own sofa with a screen in front, showing them what's going out on TV.
The artists all applaud each other as they re-enter what's effectively the green room - the traditional area for artists and performers.
The excitement down there is infectious - but within the hour that'll turn to nerves because only 10 of the 15 can make it through to Saturday's final.
We find out who, closer to 10pm.
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
Image source, ReutersThis endearing pair from Azerbaijan are rocking a 70s vibe with their colourful suits and long scarves.
So it’s a bit of a gear-change when twin brothers Tural and Turan Bağmanov switch from a tuneful guitar song to a rap, before alternating back to the original song.
Their staging is simple and the brothers stay firmly planted on their podium, with not a backing dancer in sight.
Here’s a few fun facts while we’re here. Previous Eurovision twin entries include Sophie and Magaly Gilles (Luxembourg,1980) who were memorably joined on stage by an enormous penguin.
And of course, many of you will remember Ireland’s Jedward, who took part in 2011 and 2012, bedecked in suits of silver and red.
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Perm alert! Here come Azeri twin brothers Tural and Turan Bağmanov, to perform their doe-eyed ballad Tell Me More.
Inspired by Britpop, it’s a retro soft rock number that sees the lovelorn singers leaving an answerphone message for their sweethearts.
It’s a little cheesy, and the rap sections make you cringe so hard you fold yourself in half, but I can’t help liking these guys. They’re just so charming and wholesome.
Image source, Chloe Hashemi/ESC Digital EBUDaniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, in the arena
It’s strange to hear silence in the arena, but as Sweden began performing people were whispering.
Loreen is royalty in this world, and everyone was standing to attention.
By the end of the performance everyone was jumping and screaming the lyrics.
I still think the applause for Mimicat was louder though.
Helen Bushby
Entertainment reporter
Well it's safe to say everyone liked that one! Loreen is the current bookies' favourite to win...
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
Image source, ReutersAnother banger from Loreen, Tattoo is written by the same songwriters of her last Eurovision triumph Euphoria. If she goes on to win, Sweden will equal Ireland’s record of seven Eurovision trophies.
It looks pretty claustrophobic for Loreen, sandwiched inbetween two huge LED screens (unless it’s a giant toastie-maker). Will she manage to escape?
The singer-songwriter has clearly been working on those biceps. She effortlessly manages to push the screens apart (without breaking one of her VERY long nails).
Dressed in a flesh-coloured skintight outfit, the vocal is absolutely spot on. Loreen is flying solo on stage but frankly, she doesn’t need anyone else.
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Chloe Hashemi/ESC Digital EBUSweden's Loreen is Eurovision royalty. She won the contest in 2012 with the eternal anthem Euphoria, and has been floating around Liverpool all week, offering sage advice and a regal serenity to all the other contestants.
But make no mistake, she’s here to win. Again.
Her song Tattoo is the bookmaker’s favourite, and it’s almost precision-tuned to win Eurovision. With just two simple, repeated melodies, its immediate and memorable, sinking its hooks into your brain and refusing to let go.
My only question is, how does she open a packet of crisps with those fingernails?
Andre Rhoden-Paul
reporting from Eurovision Village
Let's get out and about briefly to see what the atmosphere is like in the Eurovision fan zone near the Royal Albert Docks.
Malta went down a storm with fans.
Dancing away at the Eurovision Village flying the Malta flag was Sian Millard.
Sian is not Maltese - she's Welsh - but she's supporting Malta as that's where her niece's fiancé is from.
"We loved Malta's performance," she tells me. "We love Malta as a country.
"So I'm flying the flag for them.
"Malta will be there on Saturday in the final."
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
Watch out for the women who dance around the lead singer wearing huge tusks on their heads; we hope they’re not too heavy.
The pipe player’s trousers hark back to Mr Tumnus, the faun in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Lead singer Pasha Parfeny takes centre stage as his fellow performers swirl around him, in what could be described as a bit of a fantastical fever dream.
Like we said, this is a memorable one.
Image source, ReutersMark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Chloe Hashemi/ESC Digital EBUSome of the best Eurovision entries this year fuse the traditional, ethnic music of their countries with modern pop production.
Spain, France and Norway are all at it, and so is Moldova’s Pasha Parfeni, whose Soarele si Lunais based on Moldovan and Romanian folk tales where the sun and the moon bless a couple’s union as they marry one another, surrounded by nature.
The performance is also based on those folk tales, with tusked backing dancers representing woodland creatures who vow to protect the couple, and a magical character playing the pan flute - Statu-Palmă-Barbă-Cot - who guides the ceremony.
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockHow did Croatia's out there performance go down with the superfans?
It's divisive...
Oksana from Ukraine feels they "nailed" their protest song against dictators, that points to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kjetil, from Germany agrees it was "ICONIC", his caps, not ours...
But Maria, also from Ukraine, feels that, it's not taking the situation in her country, which led to the UK hosting on Ukraine's behalf, seriously enough.
"This is trash for me," she says...
The fake missiles used in their staging have not gone down well with fans close to the war.
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
Israeli entry Noa Kirel sings her track Unicorn mostly in English with a few lines of Hebrew slipped in here and there. One of the songwriters was also behind Netta’s winning entry Toy in 2018, which could bode well.
It kicks off with an operatic intro, as the 22-year-old begins singing inside a slanted cube on stage.
“You wanna see me dance?” she asks at one point but this is no normal dance routine, it’s more like a full-on gymnastics display.
Noa is clearly VERY flexible. We hope that PVC leotard doesn’t split at the wrong moment.
She ends with a backflip accompanied by pyrotechnics. Going out with a bang! (Not literally going out, we hope...)
Image source, EPAMark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Chloe Hashemi/ ESC Digital EBUFire up the wind machines, Israeli pop star Noa Kirel is here and she’s in full-on diva mode.
There’s a musical breakdown towards the end of Unicorn - her juddering, powerful pop anthem - where the 22-year-old pulls off some truly eye-popping, limb-bending, surely-that’s-going-to-give-her-back-problems-later-in-life dance moves.
You could power a whole suburb with the energy on the stage.
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
There’s some artful dancing going on here, with four dancers tethered to Switzerland's Remo Forrer as he sings about not wanting to be a soldier.
They’re not able to break free from him or each other, which could be a metaphor for his anti-war message. Or it could just be an arty performance.
You decide.
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/ESC Digital EBUWe’re at the half-way stage now, with the arrival of Swiss baritone Remo Forrer.
Like the previous act, he’s singing an anti-war anthem, although Watergun is more sincere and direct than Let 3’s effort.
Dancers convulse, and flares fall to the stage as he sings about the horrifying realities of war, and pleads for an end to conflict.
In rehearsals, the 21-year-old has proved to be a strong vocalist, so he‘s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, in the arena
Image source, ReutersPortugal has the least amount of production on stage tonight but the crowd were with her for every note inside the arena.
They were clapping from the moment Mimicat arrived on stage.
The running order is a real rollercoaster tonight - with the up tempo songs creating a real buzz.
Portugal gets one of the loudest responses this evening here, but what will viewers at home think?