Eurovision as it happened: results announced as winner confirmed
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Eurovision final in Liverpool has begun - with last year's winning act returning Kalush Orchestra to perform Stefania one more time.
The voting has closed. The lines were open during the interval which saw Eurovision performers from the past return.
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Hide AdThe full line-up of acts competing to lift the iconic glass microphone on Saturday (13 May) night has now been confirmed after the second semi-final. Albania, Estonia, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania, Armenia, Slovenia, Poland, Australia and Cyprus were it through after winning over the public on Thursday (11 May).
It comes as President Zelensky was blocked from addressing the Eurovision Song Contest final over fears it could politicise the event. The Ukrainian leader wanted to make an unexpected video appearance in Liverpool and it was expected he would implore the event’s global audience of millions to continue backing his country in its fight to repel its Russian invaders.
But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an alliance of 112 member organisations which organises the annual contest along with the host broadcaster, which this year is the BBC, has refused. The EBU’s management team said Zelensky had “laudable intentions” but that “regrettably” his request was against the rules. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will strike on Saturday – the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool. Passengers are being urged to check before they travel.
Follow the latest updates, reaction and memes from the NationalWorld team in our Eurovision final live blog below.
Live updates from Eurovision in Liverpool
Key Events
Mae Muller's points total revealed
She got 9 points from the public vote and finished with 24 in total. The UK avoided finishing last after Germany finished with 18, but finished second bottom in the table.
Finland take lead after more than 300 points
Finland recieved a huge public vote - giving a 186 point lead over Sweden - who has yet to receive their public votes.
Why does the UK snub singers from Scotland and Northern Ireland?
It’s the gaudy, camp, often ridiculous musical pageant we all either love or love to hate. But it seems that not every part of the UK is getting equal opportunities to contribute to the Eurovision Song Contest fun.
At first glance it may seem that Scotland’s Eurovision links are strong. It has a claim to song contest royalty, through Scottish singer Lulu, who brought home the crown in the 1969 competition. Edinburgh also hosted the contest, back in 1972 – and of course more recently on film, in Netflix’s ‘Eurovision: the Story of Fire Saga’.
Northern Ireland meanwhile shares our only land border with Europe and is arguably now our closest link with the continent. But when NationalWorld analysed which regions of the UK had produced the most – and the most successful – Eurovision artists so far this century, we were surprised to find that neither Scotland or Northern Ireland had had a look in, with both contributing zero acts.
Who are the favourites to win tonight?
The latest odds are still backing Sweden's Loreen, who has already won once, to lift the glass microphone at the end of the night.
But who else is in contention? See the latest odds here
Mae Muller's journey to Eurovision
The 25-year-old has had an interesting journey to becoming the UK's Eurovision entry for 2023.
She will be the last act to perform - but how well do you know Mae Muller?
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