Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

Recognise the voice introducing our three female hosts for this evening? Yep, it’s Spice Girl Mel C, who hails from Merseyside. Keeping it local!

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Here’s some recap footage from Tuesday’s semi-final, including some of the songs that got through.

We can also see a bit of Alesha Dixon’s freestyle rap, and the moving performance from Liverpool's own Rebecca Ferguson and Ukraine's singer Alyosha.

We also see Ukraine’s commentator Timur Miroshnychenko.

Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, at the arena

The show's opener Denmark will be familiar to at least 10 million people as Reiley has amassed a huge following on TikTok. That could be handy for him as it's entirely down to the public who qualifies.

Tuesday's semi-final had performances from some of the bigger hitters in this year's competition.

According to the bookies, none of the major favourites to win will be on stage this evening - but the artists are determined to prove them wrong.

The show is under way and we'll be keeping you informed of all the latest developments on this page.

Viewers in the UK can watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer - and by clicking the triangular Play icon at the top of this page.

Antoinette Radford
BBC News

Australia’s entrants, Voyager, hail from one of the most isolated major cities in the world – Perth, Western Australia.

When I spoke to them earlier this week, they said that isolation was to thank for their success.

“If you don’t make the art yourself it won’t just be put into your lap. So it’s very much a blue-collar, working-class style attitude when it comes to the arts scene in Perth.”

The progressive metal band have been fighting to represent the country on the Eurovision stage since 2015.

It’s possible their performance could be one of the last for Australia at Eurovision. Australia’s inclusion in Eurovision is confirmed only as far as this year – but a spokesperson from SBS, the channel that broadcasts Eurovision in Australia, told me it will pick up discussions on the future of the country in the festival after the contest.

“For now, we’re focused on giving the best performance we can with our very first group entry, Perth synth-metal band Voyager,” they said.

Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

The skies over Liverpool are clear and crisp blue as the setting sun comes out.

Currently on the main stage we have a DJ playing club classics, including Liverpool locals Camelphat and Abba's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), getting the crowd pumped for the second semi-final.

While others are taking selfies with a bronze statue of The Beatles.

Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

By the main stage, I meet Norwegian Claus Michael who tells me he's "excited like a child" to be here for the semi-final.

Tonight, the 24-year-old is supporting Denmark's act Reiley - reminiscent of young Justin Bieber - singing pop bop Breaking My Heart.

Michael says of him: "He's a charismatic singer, he's very popular on TikTok, and his music is great." He has high hopes for Denmark tonight.

Helen Bushby
Watching in the venue

Here is our little corner of the Eurovision media centre, which is a vast area packed full of desks and journalists getting ready for tonight's semi-final.

We will keep you posted on what's going on in here, and who gets the biggest cheer of the night!

Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

I'm in the section of the Village now filled with huts dedicated to all things Ukraine. There is Ukrainian food, an exhibition where you watch drone footage of the country's landscape and also vendors selling Ukrainian-made goods.

I bump into Mariya Suant, who started her fashion business I Am Volya after fleeing Kyiv when war broke out. At her stall, I find beautiful crockery and avant-garde clothes. One particular piece of jewellery made by a Ukrainian artisan is the shape of a rooster - inspired by the cockerel-shaped ceramic jug that made headlines when it survived shelling in a town near Kyiv, and became a symbol of resistance.

She tells me: "Every single product has a story about it.

"We even have price tags that says made in Ukraine under the air raid sirens and shelling, because that's how the brands continue to produce despite the blackouts."

It is opening a dialogue with people here and gives her a chance to tell them about the war.

"We tell them we are here at Eurovision feeling super proud promoting our culture, but at the same time the war goes on back in Ukraine," Mariya add.

She tells me it is amazing to see so many Ukrainian flags in the city and hear her mother tongue.

Guy De Launey
BBC Balkans correspondent

Image source, EBU

Eurovision doesn’t usually ping my cultural radar. But this year is different.

My home city, Liverpool, is hosting. My long-time neighbour, Kris, is representing Slovenia. And his band, Joker Out, are using my guitar.

On moving to Ljubljana in 2017, I was tickled to discover that my upstairs neighbour, Miha, was a bona fide rock star.

And from the mellifluous tones floating down through the ceiling, it was clear that his son, Kris, had inherited the musical genes.

Now his band are comfortably the most popular act in Slovenia. In October, Joker Out will become the youngest-ever band to play Ljubljana’s Stozice Arena.

Kris and I met up just before he set off for Liverpool. And I mentioned that there were a couple of guitars at my mum’s house should the band need one.

A couple of days later, they delighted my mum by popping round to pick up my old Rickenbacker 330.

It had been languishing under a bed. Now it’s making an appearance at the greatest international musical extravaganza Liverpool has ever staged.

Image source, Guy De Launey

Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from Liverpool city centre

I’ve been taking in all the excitement around Liverpool. I bumped into Joseph Gowers from Portsmouth, who claims to be one of Eurovision’s biggest fans. He’s even themed one of his master's projects around the competition.

Joseph said: “I’ve dedicated my masters' to Eurovision because I love it so much. I love how it brings the continent together and it feels really important given current times in Ukraine.”

He and his family were walking down to the fan zone. Joseph explained his birthday is actually on Saturday, which he says is perfect for a Eurovision fan. He thinks it is a really good decision to have the semi-finals entirely dependent on public vote.

I asked him about his predictions for the second semi-final: “I think either Austria or Slovenia will do very well but I think there'll be some surprises over who will qualify and who won’t”.

Starting now, you can watch our build-up to the main event at 20:00 BST.

Just click the Play icon at the top of this page.

Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

Katie, Hannah, Sharon and Jo are by far the pinkest people I’ve seen here, dressed head to toe in different shades of the colour. The four best friends from London are here in the fan village ready for tonight's semi- final.

Katie tells me how she wore her outfit for her hen party and she’s reliving the moment this evening.

I asked what brings them together for Eurovision. Jo said: “It’s community in the most spectacular, unhinged way - love-of-music way”.

The four are supporting Mae Muller. Hannah said: “We’re behind her, she’s great, she’s fresh. She’s bringing the freshness and youth to the song contest”.

The four finish by explaining their matching outfits for this Saturday’s final top what they’re wearing today, but of course they’re top secret!

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 in the first semi-final were either a group or a duo.

Ireland's Wild Youth (pictured) and Latvia'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 had 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 the Eurovision Village

Danes are out in force tonight. I come across Jacob Olsen and Anna Andreassen from the Faroe Islands - a Danish autonomous territory in the North Atlantic..

Their country's act Reiley singing Breaking My Heart is also Faroese. Jacob tells me: "We're very excited, we're from the Faroe Islands and this is the first time we've ever represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest.

"We love the song, we just hope Europe likes it."

On his country's chances tonight, he adds: "We're hoping for a surprise."

Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

I’m just walking through the fan village. The atmosphere feels full of energy as people prepare for the second semi-final.

I notice two women donned entirely in green and yellow colours, in football kits and hats. Deb and Amy are from Adelaide.

They say they’ve themed their outfits around representing Voyager, the band performing for Australia.

Deb explained their outfits: “We were inspired by being in Liverpool so we thought football kits were appropriate, so our team is Voyager and we’re supporting Australia on the back of our shirts”.

Australia started participating in Eurovision in 2015. I asked the pair about how important it is to them that their country can take part in the contest. Amy said: “Well, a lot of Australians are originally from Europe and our home is here, so we have to bring all the family together to unite with music”.

Image source, Getty Images

You may be scratching your head asking yourself why Australia is taking part in Eurovision.

Well, our friends down under are Eurovision regulars now.

The nation first took part at the 2015 song contest in Vienna as a one-off, but has returned every year since.

Australia has a long tradition of broadcasting the song competition and a loyal fan base, according to Eurovision organisers.

Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

Ukraine's 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala has been on the main stage at the Village.

The singer, dressed in an ornate pink outfit, sang a song in her native tongue.

She won the song contest with 1944, a song about the deportation of Crimean Tatars.

She has been accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and told the audience of the honour she felt in sharing her culture with Liverpool.

That culture of Ukraine is very much on show tonight.

Diana Kuryshko
BBC News Ukrainian, reporting from Liverpool

We asked Yulia Sanina, the Ukrainian co-host of the competition, how it felt to host a show for an audience of hundreds of millions of people.

"I don't know how to describe it," she said. "These are incredible emotions. I feel this energy of the audience, this message. The people here are very cool - everyone is dressed in bright clothes, everything lights up. And they support Ukraine so much here. It's incredible."

Yulia says that she feels that Eurovision is being held on behalf of Ukraine.

"Liverpool is all yellow and blue - our nightingales, our patterns, our musicians in the fan zone and on the Eurovision stage. We hear Ukrainian language during the show. It was very important for me that they talk about the fact that there is a war going on in Ukraine.

"Yes, it's an entertaining show, but it's important not to hide that, and that's what the focus is on."

Ever wondered what happens back stage at Eurovision?

Nina Warhurst from the BBC's Eurovisioncast had a look behind the curtain and bumped into some well-known faces.

Somehow Nina had her hair done while she was at it.

If want to hear more from Eurovisioncast head over to BBC Sounds here.

Image source, .