In the back of the room, Matt Gaetz has formed a small circle with a number of fellow Republicans, including Lauren Boebert and Patrick McHenry, who nominated Kevin McCarthy earlier today.

The huddle is getting quite a lot of interest from nearby lawmakers, who are looking back and seemingly trying to hear what's happening.

It's unclear what they're talking about, but it's clearly a very spirited conversation. Gaetz in particular is gesturing at his colleagues.

Image source, C-Span

So far, politicians have been relatively silent about actual details of what's been included in the talks between Kevin McCarthy and the remaining hold-outs.

One of those who flipped earlier, Florida's Anna Paulina Luna, tweeted a list of issues "in play" during the discussions.

The first one - which lawmakers have discussed publicly over the last several days - is a rule that would allow "a single person to make the motion to remove the Speaker if he goes back on his word or policy agenda".

Other items include a committee that she says would allow the House to look into the "weaponisation" of government entities, as well as a vote on term limits, a "Texas border plan", and a budget that stops an increase in the US debt ceiling.

Here's the full list:

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Gaetz, one of the most notable holdouts to McCarthy's confirmation, did not appear to vote when his name was called.

He may be waiting until the very end to keep the suspense going.

Ahead of the 14th Speaker vote this evening, the Florida congressman struck a new tone.

"I am grateful that speaker-designate McCarthy has been so receptive to each and every change that we have demanded," Gaetz said.

"I’m very optimistic about where we are right now."

Two other holdouts have voted, but not for McCarthy.

Virginia's Bob Good voted for Jim Jordan. Eli Crane voted for another rebel, Andy Biggs.

Only one remaining hold-out, Matthew Rosendale, still has to be called.

The clerk is going through the names in alphabetical order.

After what seemed to be a moment of slight hesitation, Colorado's Lauren Boebert voted "present" - the first time she hasn't picked an opponent to McCarthy.

McCarthy's allies stood and applauded at her vote.

One of the other six holdouts - Andy Biggs - voted for congressman Jim Jordan.

But Boebert's switch is encouraging for McCarthy.

Voting has begun, with no other nominees brought forward for the Speaker's role.

That marks the first time in 14 rounds of votes that a Republican alternative to Kevin McCarthy has not been named.

This process has taken 45 minutes to an hour in previous attempts.

Image source, EPA

Representative Pete Aguilar has nominated Democrat Hakeem Jeffries to be Speaker - another scene we've grown familiar with.

In a comment he's repeated several times over the last few days, Aguilar noted that Democrats "stand united" - which some have taken as a subtle dig at the infighting among Republicans.

He's also mentioning the 6 January 2021 riot at length. The riot was two years ago today.

"The same individuals who fanned the flames of January 6... may well be in charge of the people's house," he said.

The comment was met with load groans and a Republican lawmaker who screamed: "Wrong!"

Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

There's still no name above the doorway that leads to the House Speaker's office here in the Capital.

But that doesn't mean it's empty. Earlier this week, it emerged that Kevin McCarthy has already moved in to the office.

In the hallway outside, there's a small McCarthy sign.

Earlier this week, the office became a point of contention after Florida Republican Matt Gaetz - one of the remaining holdouts - sent a letter to the Architect of the Capitol asking how long McCarthy would be allowed to remain there before being considered "a squatter".

Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

Image source, Getty Images

North Carolina Republican Patrick McHenry has nominated Kevin McCarthy - the 14th time we've heard a version of a similar speech.

In a first, however, McCarthy has hugged him - and has a beaming smile across his face. He certainly seems much more relaxed than when we saw him on Friday morning.

McHenry, for his part, is casting the last few days in a positive light - as an example of a vibrant democratic process.

"Open and transparent debate is what sets us apart from authoritarian regimes," he said. "Kevin McCarthy has allowed this process to work among House Republicans."

McHenry noted that McCarthy is "building consensus" in the party, a possible nod to whatever deals have been made behind closed doors.

The lawmaker says of his nominee: "The man's relentless. He does not quit!"

Speculation is rife that at least one of the six remaining anti-McCarthy holdouts will flip their vote, and perhaps some might choose to vote "present".

Arizona's Andy Biggs, however, doesn't sound like he'll be one of them.

In a post to Twitter earlier, the Trump loyalist said he's "still holding the line".

"If we can't make a change when there is an opportunity to do it, then when can we?" he wrote.

The House has been gavelled in and the traditional prayer is being given.

Notably, the chaplain's prayer noted that "tonight may be the night" that the 118th Congress finally begins.

There's quite a few more children in here right now than were here earlier today - potentially a sign that many representatives feel they might finally get sworn in.

The prayer ended with applause from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

It remains to be seen if McCarthy manages to get the votes tonight on his 14th try - although he seems confident that he will.

But if he does, what happens next?

Procedurally, the next step is that the House Speaker would swear-in every member, as well as the delegates that represent Washington DC and US territories such as American Samoa.

Technically, there are no representatives yet until they're sworn in. That's one of the reasons this protracted process has been such a big deal.

After the swearing-in process is finished, the representatives would discuss the "Rules package", which will set out the rules of the 118th Congress.

The last vote series would be on the adoption of the House Rules Package, as well as the "Previous Question", which essentially ends debate for the session.

Many representatives - as well as the increasingly impatient and exasperated press corps here - are hopeful that this happens soon to bring back some semblance of normality to Capitol Hill.

The BBC understands that these proceedings may last until 03:00 local time.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

Image source, Getty Images

We're back in the gallery overlooking the House floor now, and it's a fairly subdued - almost relaxed - scene.

Representatives are starting to trickle in. Many of them look a bit tired - it's been a long day, after all - but the atmosphere seems very laidback. Quite a few of them are laughing and joking with their colleagues.

In the back of the room, two of the remaining anti-McCarthy voters, Colorado's Lauren Boebert and Florida's Matt Gaetz, are having what seems to be a very animated conversation, with Boebert shaking her head and Gaetz gesturing with his hands.

The House will be "gavelled in" in just a few moments.

Holly Honderich
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

Suddenly it seems like everyone's watching C-SPAN.

Word has gotten out that the greatest soap opera of all is happening on live TV up at Capitol Hill.

Rolling cameras from all angles have captured the behind-the-scenes drama this week at the US House of Representatives.

We've clipped the highlights.

Produced by the BBC's Alexandra Ostasiewicz

Welcome back to our coverage of Kevin McCarthy's battle to be named House Speaker.

The chamber is due back in session at 22:00 local time (03:00 GMT)

Earlier on Friday, Kevin McCarthy made significant inroads, managing to flip back 15 of the 20 Republican holdouts.

Six diehard dissidents remain, but McCarthy and his allies have expressed confidence they'll manage to wrangle the votes he needs.

Stay tuned with us for more updates as the night goes on.

With congress adjourned for a few more hours, we're pausing our live coverage of the ongoing effort to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives.

So far today, Republican Kevin McCarthy has made significant progress in winning the position he has been striving to secure for four days (and 13 rounds of votes).

But his uphill battle is not yet over, with a handful of the Republican leader's colleagues still resisting his appointment to the most senior role in the US Congress.

We'll be back up and running before the House resumes at 22:00 EST (03:00 GMT), ahead of the 14th round. You can read more about today's votes here.

Thanks for joining us.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill

Over the last week, one striking image has stood out to many of the staffers, journalists and lawmakers that have been here this week: the nameless door of the House Speaker's Office.

Kevin McCarthy hopes that his name will go above the door - and the last several days have been about making that happen.

They've adjourned until 10 PM local time. It's going to be a late one.

As we've noted, McCarthy and his political allies seem confident that this will end by the end of the night, rather than potentially drag into the weekend or into next week.

The House floor has largely cleared out now. Only small pockets of representatives remain.

Image source, Win McNamee/Getty Images

One of Kevin McCarthy's staunchest and most outspoken Republican opponents over the last few days has acknowledged his victory in the race to be Speaker of the House of Representatives is now looking quite likely.

Speaking to CNN as he was leaving the House chamber earlier, Matt Gaetz said: "We had a lot of folks gain a lot of confidence in some of the negotiations. As you saw on that vote, it looked like a critical mass."

The Florida congressman had previously publicly predicted McCarthy would never hold the most senior position in Congress.

However, Gaetz also told CNN McCarthy would effectively be governing in a "straitjacket" due to the significant concessions made to secure the votes of fellow Republican sceptics.

He said the changes to rules and people in positions in leadership offered by his Republican opponent in the negotiations will "do a lot to democratise power to the membership and will allow us a far stronger position as a House".

Some more thoughts now from our panel of Republican voters.

Vinod Jeyakaran, who lives in California and became a US citizen in 2019, is calling on all Republican representatives to rally around Kevin McCarthy.

Here's what the last few days have looked like for legislators.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images