Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Iceland's Dilja, a physiotherapy student and committed gym-goer, is wearing silver from head to toe. Her suit is lined with - you guessed it - silky pink material.

She’s singing about leaving a damaging relationship and embracing positivity, and her staging has a distinctly botanical theme.

Giant pine needles, blossom and lilies float behind her, as she sings: “I’ll take my flowers while I can.” And who can blame her?

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU

Icelandic singer Dilja was a gymnast until she tore her anterior cruciate ligament and had to retire.

But she puts that experience to good use on the Eurovision stage, throwing some impressive flips and high kicks into her dance routine.

The athleticism doesn’t detract from her performance, though. A consistently strong vocalist, she really lets rip in the final 30 seconds of her song, Power, which is all about ridding yourself of people who bring you down.

Image source, .

We've just heard performances from Estonia, Romania, Armenia, Denmark, Belgium and Cyprus, with plenty more to go. But what has our group of international superfans had to say about the acts so far?

Estonia seems to be the most popular act with the group.

"Beautiful song from Estonia, and vocals," Oskana said.

Maria agreed, adding: "I love vocal of this song, very impressive! I will be voting for Estonia".

Matthew said Alika's vocals were "absolutely gorgeous".

Oksana also liked Armenia's performance, describing Brunette as a "lovely artist".

"I don’t know why she reminded me Beyoncé somehow," Maria said.

Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

Image source, PA Media

Aussie Andrew Lambrou is flying the flag for his parents’ homeland Cyprus with Break A Broken Heart. He arrives on the stage barefoot (anyone over a certain age is now smugly pointing at the TV and shouting, “Sandie Shaw did it first!”).

He’s got 80s disco smoke swirling around him, and is dressed in a black vest and wide pants. I bet he discovered that comfy combo during lockdown.

Several Love Island-style firepits suddenly appear behind him during the final verse, and there’s more pyrotechnics popping up left, right and centre near the front. We can literally feel the heat. Where’s health and safety?

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Before this performance, Ukraine's commentator Timur Miroshnychenko and the UK's own Graham Norton were chatting to host Hannah Waddingham.

Between them they have more than 30 years of commentary expertise, and we saw a youthful photo of both of them together

"It feels like my moisturiser isn't as good as I thought it was," said Norton with an eye roll and a laugh.

Timor said his all-time favourite was Ukraine's eccentric entrant Verka Serduchka, from 2007.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Chloe Hashem/EBU

The fire marshal is on standby for Cyprus, whose stage show is a veritable bonfire of pyrotechnics.

It’s all in service of Andrew Lambrou - an Australian-Cypriot singer who smoulders his way through Break A Broken Heart, until it combusts into a powerful, anthemic chorus.

The 24-year-old’s been hitting some stunning high notes in rehearsals, and not just because he’s frightened of the flames after forgetting his shoes.

Nina Warhurst
Eurovisioncast Host

The challenge for semi-final two is going to be competing with the big hitters of semi-final one; Norway, Finland, Sweden, and (after Tuesday) Israel have been dominating the gossip around the winner.

It’s a strong start though. Denmark’s Reiley has 11 million Tiktok followers and will charm those who love a modern simple melody, and his use of the cameras was smart.

Armenia’s Brunette’s experience in a girl band shows. Although is she up there with Norway’s Alessandra and Israel’s Noa Kirel?

Theodor Andrei’s romantic plea for Romania definitely brings something different. And Alika’s vocals on Estonia’s Bridges are outstanding. The best yet.

There is a lot of noise around Austria’s Who the Hell is Edgar, and Belgium’s Gustaph is popular with the die-hards. But it’s the way he performs tonight that will count.

Listen to Eurovisioncast on BBC Sounds

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Belgium's Gustaph - in the big white hat and pink jodhpurs - is singing against a backdrop of voguing dancers.

It’s a celebratory, joyous number, with some fantastic backing singers.

Watch out for more pink shorts and socks, and keep your eyes peeled for the dancer Puss Cee with the long tail and thighs of steel towards the end of the song - full respect!

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Chloe Hashem/EBU

If it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s good enough for Eurovision. Just like Queen Bey‘s latest album Renaissance, Belgian star Gustaph resurrects the handbag house sounds of the 1990s for his joyous anthem to queer acceptance.

You can hear shades of CeCe Peniston’s Finally and Kym Sims’ Too Blind To See It in those big chunky pianos and wibbly synth organs, and he even samples the iconic drum break from Lyn Collins’ Think(About It), better known as the beat from Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s It Takes Two.

Quick Gustaph facts: He used to be part of the dance act Hercules & Love Affair, his Eurovision set was designed by his husband, his hat is a museum piece, and one of his dancers is called Pussy West.

So now you know.

Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

Another powerful female performance here. It’s just Estonia's Alika sat at a beautiful grand piano with stripped-back staging, which suits this commanding ballad.

She’s dressed in a flowing blue trouser suit with her hair scraped back in a no-nonsense high ponytail. Sometimes the size of the stage at Eurovision can swallow up solo performers but Alika commands the space easily. She’s bathed in golden light at one point. What a goddess!

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU

Piano ballads are the lingua franca of Eurovision, but we’ve never had a self-playing piano ballad before.

Estonian singer Alika changes all that, with this deeply personal song about emerging from a period of personal turmoil.

As she regains control of her life in the lyrics, she also takes over the piano keys on the stage (hello, metaphor!) before driving her song forward to a breathtakingly emotional climax.

Just wait for until you hear her final note. It’ll give you shivers.

The performances have begun and we want to hear your reviews! Which acts are getting you off the sofa and bopping? Which acts have left you with your head in your hands? Send us your comments in the following ways:

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Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

This set is unusual - you’ll see Romania's singer Theodor Andrei lying flat on the floor, legs akimbo around his guitar, in a sea of red. The backdrop later changes to water droplets and lava.

This song, about a destructive relationship, sees another pink suit take centre stage, but this time with safari shorts (we didn’t realise they were a thing).

Watch out for the giant, doll-like woman on the backdrop, who then runs on stage in a gold catsuit and smears black paint on his chest. We hope it works out for them.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Chloe Hashem/EBU

During rehearsals, Theodor Andrei’s outfits have all been themed around his favourite cartoon characters.

First, the Romanian singer dressed in bright yellow, accompanied by a pair of Pikachu socks; then he donned a lurid pink suit, this time with Spongebob Squarepants footwear.

Will he keep up the tradition for the live show? We’re about to find out.

Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

The arena is plunged into darkness before subtle lighting reveals Brunette lying on a slope covered in pink purple candy swirls as she begins her hypnotic ballad. The set then switches abruptly to a stark black and white backdrop as she stands up to… rap. Did you see that one coming?

She’s looking epic, wearing thigh-high laced-up platform boots, a fringed white skirt and laced bodice, with her hair flowing way past her bum. Impressive, and not a split end in sight.

Although she’s also part of a girl band outside the Eurovision universe, she has no-one alongside her on stage tonight. She seems more than ok.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Chloe Hashem/EBU

Second on the stage is Elen Yeremyan, AKA Brunette, for Armenia.

She’s been singing in concerts since she was four years old, so this should be a breeze.

She might be sitting on an alarmingly-tilted LED screen, wearing a costume held together by shoelaces, but she looks supremely comfortable as she belts out the big notes of her power ballad, Future Lover.

The song’s all about searching for the perfect partner: “I wanna explore with him and visit old bookstores / And cute little things, like drink smoothies at near cafes.” How sweet.

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

This is a plaintive song by Denmark's Reiley about the fear of heartbreak.

The TikTok star is wearing head-to-toe sparkles, and is one of several performers tonight in pink, which is hardly surprising given it’s Eurovision!

You’ll spot Reiley has a love heart cut-out in his trousers and the back of his jacket, to complement the candy-coloured house in his stage set. He also has a tiny heart shaved into the back of his hairline. What detail!

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, PA Media

Here we go! Danish singer Reiley kicks off the second semi-final with his sugary-sweet pop anthem Breaking My Heart.

It’s a performance designed for TV, as he pirouettes through a rotating house, bathed in pastel colours that complement his vibrant pink suit.

What you won’t see on television is the team of stagehands who push the set around as he performs, looking utterly bored until they get their cue.

Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

Hannah’s flexing her linguistic muscles with a bit of her fabulous French, which she first showcased during Tuesday’s first semi. We think she’s talking about the voting but don’t take my word for it (I got a D in GCSE French).

Image source, Reuters

In case you missed the first semi-final (where were you?!) let’s introduce you to tonight’s three hosts, who will be joined for Saturday’s final by Graham Norton.

You have Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, hot on the heels of her very successful hosting of London’s Olivier Awards in March.

The Emmy winner, who started out in musical theatre, has also appeared on the West End, Broadway and in TV’s Game of Thrones and Sex Education.

She’s joined by Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, who was also on the judges’ panel for Strictly Come Dancing after winning the show in 2007. She started her career as a singer in girl group Mis-Teeq.

Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, who opened the first semi-final performing with her band The Hardkiss, completes the trio.