Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

What a special moment this is - the Liverpool Songbook medley, featuring Eurovision stars from across the years singing tracks by artists with Liverpudlian connections.

It opens with Italy’s Mahmood, who has represented his country twice at Eurovision. He’s singing a gentle interpretation of John Lennon’s Imagine, which is one hell of an act to follow, but luckily Mahmood manages to put his own stamp on it.

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

We've just seen Alesha Dixon up in the commentary boxes at the back of the stadium, with Ukraine’s Timur Miroshnychenko, who has been involved with Eurovision for 18 years.

"I have had a great time here, there's so many wonderful people," he says about being in Liverpool. His favourite thing is the way people call each other "boss".

Next we met Australia’s Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasy.

Australia is of course watching this first thing in the morning, which is true dedication.

"We love Eurovision because it's warm and wonderful - who wouldn't want to be part of this community," says Myf. "We adore our participation!"

Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, inside the arena

We’ve still got just under 90 minutes left of Eurovision 2023 as we wait for the voting and the results to come through.

I’ve just had a sneak peek in the commentary booths and some of the international commentators used Sam Ryder’s performance as an opportunity to run to the toilet.

After all, they have all had to sit patiently through 26 songs!

Image source, PA

Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from a Watch Along party

Dancing on a bench, I find Eurovision superfan Rosie Harris, who has been watching the show since she was nine.

The 28-year-old from The Wirral, who is at the party with her brother, tells me: "I absolutely love Eurovision. Finland is my favourite. I love Finland. How can you not love Cha Cha Cha? It's so catchy."

"I think he can beat Loreen, everyone was on their feet, you can't beat that."

I then bump into Eurovision fan Hannah Sharp, from Liverpool.

Speaking on the UK's Mae Muller, who got a massive roar here and had everyone standing on their benches, she says: "She was very good live. It really surprised me because I saw her in rehearsals and she was on vocal rest. But tonight she was amazing."

But her money's on Israel winning. That's a first! I can't say I've met many people sharing that view.

Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue

Host Julia is now in amongst the crowd with some of tonight's Ukrainian guests, who are now living in the UK after fleeing the war.

Ukrainian presenter Timur Miroshnychenko gives us a taste of the excitement in store later in the show with a look back at key moments from previous Eurovisions. Things can change very quickly when the results come in!

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Image source, BBC One/Eurovision

Here’s a blast from the past - former Eurovision host and BBC newsreader Jan Leeming is on the sofa with Graham Norton.

She hosted Eurovision back in 1982 in Harrogate, the year after Bucks Fizz won with Making Your Mind Up.

"It was 2,000 people, very demure, red carpet, black tie, none of this. It was very, very different," she recalls.

"Everyone loves Sam Ryder, chaps."

Well said, Mel Giedroyc. We quite agree.

Image source, .

The performances are over 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

Image source, PA Media

Here’s the effervescent Sam Ryder, who of course came second for the UK at last year’s contest with Space Man - our biggest success in decades.

The staging for his upbeat song, Mountain, has a Star Wars feel to it (happily minus Darth Vader). Ryder is surrounded by giant white glowsticks, while people with artificial limbs or in wheelchairs take centre stage.

Queen’s own Roger Taylor is on drums, heralding a stage full of drummers surrounded by bursts of flames. Having been lucky enough to sit in the arena for a rehearsal, we can tell you they give off a LOT of heat!

Ryder, in a trademark black and glittery trouser suit, is guaranteed to get everyone cheering!

Viewers in the UK can vote for their favourite of the 26 songs performed in tonight’s Eurovision Grand Final - here’s how: ​​

Votes can be cast by using the official Eurovision Song Contest app, available on iOS , externaland Android, external, or through the contest’s new online voting hub, external. ​​

In the UK we can’t vote through by texting and it costs 15p per vote if you’re calling the short number on a mobile or 15p plus your network access charge if you’re using a landline.​​

You can vote up to 20 times but remember, you can’t vote for the country you’re in (if you do, your vote won’t count but you’ll still be charged). ​​

Voting opens for approximately 40 minutes after the last song is performed (this will be the UK’s entrant, Mae Muller).

​​Televotes make up 50% of the result and the rest will be determined by a professional jury in each participating country.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, Reuters

Like I said, earlier, there was some negative chatter about Mae Muller during rehearsals, but it seems like she was holding all her firepower for the Grand Final.

That was the best she's done all week. Her voice was stronger, her dance moves more confident and, crucially for those of you at home, they changed up the camera angles so you could see more of her performance.

Previously the production used a lot of wide shots to show off the staging. Tonight, we got a lot more close-ups that sold Mae's sassy personality.

As you could hear from the response in the arena, she really connected with the crowd. But is that just the home advantage? We'll find out when the votes come in.

Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, inside the arena

The green room where the artists sit is in full-on party mode right now.

The United Kingdom has just closed the show, every artist has done everything they can.

The drinks are being poured, selfies are being had. Who will win?

We couldn’t hear what the hosts were saying because the crowd were so loud.

It feels amazing to be here.

Phew! That's a wrap on all the performances from tonight's Grand Final and voting is now open.

Here was the line-up tonight:

Image source, .

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

What an enthusiastic crowd in the arena after the UK's performance - we can barely hear the hosts.

"Pace yourselves kids," says Graham Norton.

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

Here we go!

All the information you need on how to vote is right here, external.

Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from the Eurovision Village

The crowd in the village is watching Mae Muller and I spot someone who looks a lot like Sam Ryder, last year's performer for the UK.

George Folds is dressed as Sam Ryder because his wife “did it” in his words.

He says: “My wife is a very big fan of his. Lots of people are stopping me because they think I’m Sam. It’s pretty terrifying but a great experience”.

I ask him about the UK’s act this year.

George adds: “I think Mae Muller can absolutely rock it but she’s not better than Sam (me). But I think the UK has a good shot and could come near to the top”.

Our WhatsApp group of Eurovision superfans has been busy digesting all the performances we've seen so far tonight.

"The guys from Croatia sing more confident today," Volodymyr says.

"Oh my. What is this???" Mark says about Let 3.

Philippe says "so many memes are gonna be made" about Croatia's performance.

Another fan said they loved Slovenia's Joker Out because they are "such charismatic and energetic performers!"

Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue

And finally...it’s the UK’s Mae Muller with I Wrote a Song.

We see a psychedelic pink and yellow backdrop, with a giant floating picture of Mae’s head, hands and feet (not all at once). Her trademark long fingernails also take centre stage.

Mae and her four dancers are on a huge, long podium, and the backdrop provides the eye-catching action, while Mae delivers her cool, feminist message.

She says this song is “for the girlies that went through heartache, hurt or pain and came out of the other side”.

Mark Savage
Watching at the venue

Image source, EPA

Closing the show on home turf is the UK’s Mae Muller, whose track features a meta-textual lyric about the writing of the song itself.

"I was really annoyed at this guy. I wanted to do something crazy, maybe burn his house down, I don't know," she explained on TikTok, "But instead I took the high road and I wrote a song. And that's called growth, ladies and gentlemen."

An upbeat club banger with flecks of Spanish guitar, it’s proved popular in the real world – picking up tons of radio play and millions of Spotify streams

There have been concerns about Mae’s vocals during rehearsals but she pulled it out of the bag for Friday’s jury final.

Fingers crossed she can do it again tonight.

Before tonight's Grand Final, the BBC's Eurovisioncast asked some of their top celebrity friends for their messages and tips for Mae Muller, who's up next.

The UK contestant will be the last to perform tonight.

You can listen to Eurovisioncast on BBC Sounds tomorrow morning for all the reaction to the final.