Eurovision: Viral TikTok stars and Edgar Allan Poe in second semi-final

Two days aft the melodramatic archetypal semi-final, the 2nd sound retired signifier of this year's Eurovision Song Contest comes unrecorded from Liverpool connected Thursday evening.

Sixteen countries volition vie for 10 places successful Saturday night's expansive final.

Tuesday night's show, hosted by Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian vocalist Julia Sanina, had a highest of 3.4m viewers.

It volition beryllium again down to viewers to determine who tin loop retired a tune, whose creation moves are the champion and which staging and costumes impress.

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

The show's opener Denmark volition beryllium acquainted to astatine slightest 10 cardinal radical arsenic Reiley has amassed a immense pursuing connected TikTok. That could beryllium useful for him arsenic it's wholly down to the nationalist who qualifies.

Tuesday's semi-final had performances from immoderate of the bigger hitters successful this year's competition.

According to the bookies, nary of the large favourites to triumph volition beryllium connected signifier this evening - but the artists are determined to beryllium them wrong.

Gustaph from Belgium volition present a 1980's vogue-inspired consciousness bully way which Eurovision fans volition thigh up.

This twelvemonth feels somewhat similar the conflict of the bands.

There are a fistful competing successful Liverpool - the metropolis which raised The Beatles.

Joker Out anticipation being the biggest selling set successful their location nation, Slovenia, volition springiness them the signifier beingness to get them done to the final.

It's a harder qualifying circular to foretell than the archetypal 1 - thing could hap here.

One of the unlikeliest inspirations for a Eurovision song, not love, oregon loss, but a literate reference, volition travel from Austria arsenic Teya and Salena loop retired Who The Hell Is Edgar?

It's their instrumentality connected the 19th Century American writer Edgar Allan Poe, portion highlighting their vexation with what songwriters are paid by streaming services successful the euphony industry.

The amusement starts astatine 20:00 BST and, aft each 16 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.

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.

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.