Sweden's Loreen wins Eurovision for the second time

1. Swedish star Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with her song Tattoo
2. Loreen, who was previously crowned Eurovision winner in 2012 with her song Euphoria, says she feels "so much love... I'm thankful"
3. Finland's Käärijä came in second place, while the UK's Mae Muller finished second from bottom
4. Russia attacked the home city of the Ukrainian entry Tvorchi just before they performed earlier, reports say
5. The contest is being held in Liverpool this year, because the war in Ukraine prevents them hosting
6. The show opened with a performance by last year's winners - Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra - featuring a surprise cameo by Catherine, Princess of Wales

A1 star Ben Adams popped up for Sweden's jury vote

Emma Saunders

Watching at the venue

Eagle-eyed Eurovision fans may have spotted Brit Ben Adams announcing Sweden's jury vote. The A1 singer represented Norway in Subwoolfer last year. Who could forget that yellow headgear?

Getty Images

Remember Subwoolfer from last year? How could you forget...

The leader board after the end of the jury votes

At the end of the jury votes, here's what the top 5 looks like:

1. Sweden - 340 points
2. Israel - 177 points
3. Italy - 176 points
4. Finland - 150 points
5. Estonia - 146 points

The second half of the votes are made of the choices of the public. Stay with us.

Gulf between Sweden and other acts widens

Helen Bushby

Watching at the venue

The UK has cast its vote, from Doctor Who star Catherine Tate!

Sweden are looking unstoppable, with 340 points. Way below, we have Israel with 177 points and Italy with 176.

The UK is in 22nd place with 15 points.

Audience votes coming up next...

The last two juries now!

• Lithuania gives 12 Sweden, no points to the UK
• The UK gives 12 to Sweden (Loreen is in the lead with 340 points now)

'Everyone loves everyone' - LGBT fans hail inclusivity

Andre Rhoden-Paul

Reporting from Euroclub

BBC

Patrick Boutilier

I'm back at Euroclub, where fans are intensely looking at the giant screen as the results come in.

It's obvious who Patrick Boutilier, from Canada, is supporting - he's wrapped in a Finnish flag.

Patrick, who's been to Eurovision five times, tells me: "Finland for the win. Käärijä is everything, his song is everything. I'm ready to go to Helsinki next year."

Sitting to next him is Matthew Bowler who gives me his prediction for the top places. "Austria, Finland and France. Shoutout to Moldova - cause it was very quirky."

The Brummie describes his first Eurovision experience saying: "It's just hyper pop. It's so seamless the way it goes from one act to the next."

Patrick says there is a real sense of inclusivity at Eurovision for the LGBT community. "You walk down the street, there's no drama, everyone loves everyone," he says.

Matthew, 29, who also gay, says: "It's so out there and glamorous, and it builds your confidence up just watching it.

The fashion, the music, you just want to get out your own skin and just live."

BBC

Catherine Tate announces results of UK national jury

PA Media

We're now hearing from actress Catherine Tate, who is announcing the results of the UK's national jury.

Tate is best known for her much-loved comic creations, including Joanie "Nan" Taylor, the foul-mouthed pensioner, and surly schoolgirl Lauren Cooper, both from The Catherine Tate Show.

She also played the companion Donna Noble in Doctor Who, a role she will reprise this year for the sci-fi show's forthcoming 60th anniversary.

Later this year, Tate will star in a new BBC One comedy series called Queen of Oz.

We're getting to the tail end of the national jury results now. Up next is Georgia, Czechia, Slovenia, Greece and Albania, who all give nil points to the UK:

• Georgia gives Belgium 12 points
• Czechia's 12 points go to Ukraine - bring them to 52 points
• Slovenia's jury gives 12 to Italy, now in second place
• Greece's 12 points go Belgium
• Albania's 12 points go to Sweden, now at 316 points

Sweden has a strong hold on the leaderboard

Another look at the leaderboard now, where the top three remains unchanged again:

1. Sweden - 281 points
2. Italy -156 points
3. Israel -149 points
4. Finland -142 points
5. Estonia -115 points

Crowds in fan village watch on in silence

Gem O'Reilly

Reporting from the Eurovision Village

BBC

The crowd feels tense here in the fan village. It’s interesting to see everyone’s reactions as the results are announced.

The building in front of me is lit up in yellow and blue, acting as a reminder of why we are here in Liverpool - because of the war in Ukraine.

The crowd has been really loud but right now it falls silent and it looks like a different blue and yellow flag may be doing very well this year.

Are we bovvered?

Daniel Rosney

Eurovision reporter, inside the arena

Catherine Tate is getting ready to give the UK’s jury points.

The comedy actress, famous for characters like Nan and Lauren, is standing on a staircase getting her make-up retouched below where I’ve been stood for hours.

She looks amazing!

Over to Australia, Denmark, Spain, Israel and Sweden, where there's some better news for the UK:

• Australia 's 12 points goes to Belgium
• Denmark gives one point to the UK and 12 Sweden
• Spain's 12 points goes to Sweden's Loreen
• Israel hands 12 to Sweden, bringing Loreen up to 277 points
• Sweden gives 4 points to the UK and 12 to Finland

'I'm ashamed, no point for the UK' - Ukrainians react

Diana Kuryshko

BBC News Ukrainian, reporting from Liverpool

Ukraine gave 12 points to Sweden, which seemed to raise questions from some viewers watching the country's live YouTube broadcast.

“Why not to Poland?” YouTube user Oleksandr posted in the comments section.

“I'm ashamed - no point for the UK,” said Luidmyla. “It’s not fair,” said Ylia.

The top of the leaderboard remains static

Emma Saunders

Watching at the venue

Sweden are still holding strong at the moment, with Italy and Israel not far behind. Finland are very happy to receive douze points from Norway!

Australia creeps into the top 5

Here's how the top five are looking now, and Australia has snuck in:

1. Sweden - 234 points
2. Italy - 130 points
3. Israel - 129 points
4. Finland - 107 points
5. Australia - 93 points

The results form the jury votes are coming in thick and fast now and in the last few moments, we've heard from Iceland, Serbia, Cyprus, Norway and Switzerland.

Here's how they voted:

• Iceland, after some delay, announces its 12 points goes to Australia
• Serbia gives 12 to Slovenia
• Cyprus awards 12 points to Sweden
• Norway gives Finland douze points
• Switzerland's 12 points goes to Czechia. No points given to the UK again from the round.

Loreen 'overwhelmed' as Sweden holds the lead

Reuters

Sweden's Loreen says she's "overwhelmed" to be leading in the scoreboard.

The singer says she's in a "meditational state" while she waits for the results.

Asked how supportive all the acts are to each other, she says they are all friends.

She says the audience in Liverpool is "bloody amazing".

The scoreboard after the first group of results

Let's go back to the scoreboard for the jury votes, where Italy and Israel are playing tag for second place:

1. Sweden - 194
2. Italy- 109
3. Israel - 108
4. Estonia - 78
5. Finland - 75

Sweden is looking hard to beat - at the moment

Helen Bushby

Watching at the venue

There is a big gulf between Sweden at the top of the leader board with 194 points, and Italy, which is second with 109, then Israel just behind with 108.

All this could change in the audience vote though... it's going to get very exciting!

Up next to reveal the results of the national jury votes is Croatia, Estonia, Armenia, Poland and Romania:

• Croatia awards 12 points to Italy
• Estonia gives 12 to Sweden
• Armenia's 12 points goes to Israel
• Poland sends 12 points to Israel
• And Romania gives 12 points to Italy. No points for the UK in this round.

The first douze points for Australia

Emma Saunders

Watching at the venue

Australia gets its first 12 points (the band are having a snack as they find out the happy news!) Austria also gets its first 12.

But Sweden is still running away with it - so far. Early days! Italy are in second and Israel in third as it stands.