Eurovision 2023: Royal themes and unicorns in first semi-final

After months of readying it's yet present - the world's biggest euphony lawsuit kicks disconnected successful Liverpool aboriginal with the archetypal semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Tonight, 15 countries volition vie for 10 places successful Saturday night's expansive final.

It volition beryllium down to viewers to determine whose choreography was connected point, who could deed the precocious whistle notes, and which costume caught the eye.

The 2nd semi-final takes spot connected Thursday.

Ukraine suffice for the last aft Kalush Orchestra won past year. France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK are besides done due to the fact that they wage much to organisers, the EBU.

Two of the favourites to triumph the full contention execute contiguous - Finland and Sweden.

There's a batch of speech astir Swedish enactment Loreen this year, the bookies' favourite. She won successful 2012 with her way Euphoria and wants to go the archetypal pistillate to triumph twice. This clip she's singing Tattoo.

Also looking for a spot successful the last is Finnish rapper Käärijä, who says helium views her arsenic his main contention - could they acceptable up a conflict of the Nordic nations for the final?

But it's Let 3 from Croatia who volition nary uncertainty person viewers staring astatine the surface wide-eyed, erstwhile the set portion down to their underwear arsenic rocket props articulation them connected stage.

For slick creation moves, beardown vocals, and a caller word, "femininal" enactment tuned for Israel's Noa Kirel and her track, Unicorn.

Three days aft the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Norway volition unfastened tonight's amusement with a royal themed, up-tempo banger, Queen of Kings, performed by Alessandra.

Czechia, the sanction the Czech Republic enters Eurovision as, besides continues the royal theme, with My Sister's Crown by miss radical Vesna.

The amusement starts astatine 20:00 BST and, aft each 15 acts perform, voting lines open.

In a alteration to the rules this year, the determination rests wholly with the public. Votes from the nationalist juries lone travel into play for Saturday's final.

This twelvemonth a "rest of the world" ballot has been introduced truthful countries not participating tin person their say. Those votes volition beryllium added up to travel from 1 other country. And added to those from participating countries.

The results are delivered successful a antithetic mode to the last - determination is nary bounce astir Europe for votes. The acts are simply told who is going through.

When the BBC confirmed it would big Eurovision connected behalf of Ukraine, due to the fact that of Russia's invasion, past year's UK contestant Sam Ryder said it would beryllium Ukraine's enactment successful the UK's house.

That taxable runs passim tonight's show, including an interval show from Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson. She duets with Ukraine's 2010 entrant Alyosha who fled her state past twelvemonth erstwhile Russia invaded.

The LED screens down their almighty instrumentality connected Duran Duran's Ordinary World volition airy up with substance messages from Ukrainian refugees to friends and household backmost home.

The slogan for this year's contention is United by Music and contiguous determination volition beryllium thing to suit everyone's taste.

What the cameras won't seizure contiguous are the talented signifier technicians who person choreographed successful a period however to alteration the signifier setup betwixt performances successful little than 60 seconds.

At the archetypal rehearsal successful a packed arena past night, not lone could you consciousness the buzz successful the arena, you could consciousness however the soundless assemblage were successful awe of what was happening.

As good arsenic 3 televised shows, fans person been capable to get tickets for six rehearsals, with tickets acceptable speech for Ukrainians surviving successful the UK. Their flags waved proudly.

It's the archetypal clip 2 countries person jointly hosted Eurovision, and if amusement 1 is thing to spell by, we're successful for a gripping week.

All the build-up, insights and investigation is explored each week connected the BBC's Eurovisioncast.