Eurovision 2023 live: Liverpool set to host song contest on behalf of Ukraine | Eurovision 2023

Here is your running order for tonight, which the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have handily put on a social media graphic so that I don’t have to type it all out. The show starts at 8pm BST.

Ukraine go 19th, the UK goes last. Favourites Sweden and Finland go 10th and 13th. The show opens with Austria’s brilliant song about Edgar Allan Poe, and 25th is Croatia’s utterly and delightfully bonkers anti-war song Mama ŠČ! from Let 3. Plus we will get the usual skits and grand musical musical numbers.

The comments will be open, but experience tells me that I will be unlikely to draw enough of a breath to join in, but have fun and be kind to each other.

And remember our cardinal rule. If you have come on to the Guardian website to leave a comment saying that you don’t watch Eurovision, you hate it, it is a silly waste of a time, then fair enough, everyone is entitled to their opinion, you do you. But I can guarantee we are having a better time enjoying it than you are by choosing to actively spend your Saturday evening moaning about it 🙂

You can drop me an email to [email protected] if you spot mistakes or want to tell me how your party is going or why Austria should win and so on. I can’t promise to reply but I will try to read them all.

Big hats. Ludicrous costumes. An ornate stage set. Specially composed music. Lots of people waving flags. Yes, that was me live blogging the coronation last Saturday. But tonight it really is the jewel in the crown of the music calendar – the grand final of the Eurovision song contest. This year it is coming to you from Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine and, in the specific case of this live blog, from Walthamstow.

The show starts at 8pm BST, and will be hosted by Graham Norton, Julia Sanina, Alesha Dixon and Eurovision goddess Hannah Waddingham. It will feature 26 acts vying for the title. Sweden’s Loreen is hotly tipped to win, but Finland’s Käärijä, Israel’s Noa Kirel, and Noway’s Alessandra might have other plans.

There are loads of famous faces from Eurovision past set to appear, and there will be celebrations of Liverpool’s musical heritage, and tributes to Ukraine, who would be hosting tonight’s event if it wasn’t for Russia’s invasion of their country.

The comments will be open. It is always great fun, and one of my favourite evenings of the year. Well, except for the panicky bit right at the end when I’m trying follow the scores as they come, file a news story for tomorrow’s paper about who has won, and keep the live blog ticking over, while regretting my earlier drinking decisions. Please join me!

Here is your running order for tonight, which the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have handily put on a social media graphic so that I don’t have to type it all out. The show starts at 8pm BST.

Ukraine go 19th, the UK goes last. Favourites Sweden and Finland go 10th and 13th. The show opens with Austria’s brilliant song about Edgar Allan Poe, and 25th is Croatia’s utterly and delightfully bonkers anti-war song Mama ŠČ! from Let 3. Plus we will get the usual skits and grand musical musical numbers.

The comments will be open, but experience tells me that I will be unlikely to draw enough of a breath to join in, but have fun and be kind to each other.

And remember our cardinal rule. If you have come on to the Guardian website to leave a comment saying that you don’t watch Eurovision, you hate it, it is a silly waste of a time, then fair enough, everyone is entitled to their opinion, you do you. But I can guarantee we are having a better time enjoying it than you are by choosing to actively spend your Saturday evening moaning about it 🙂

You can drop me an email to [email protected] if you spot mistakes or want to tell me how your party is going or why Austria should win and so on. I can’t promise to reply but I will try to read them all.

Big hats. Ludicrous costumes. An ornate stage set. Specially composed music. Lots of people waving flags. Yes, that was me live blogging the coronation last Saturday. But tonight it really is the jewel in the crown of the music calendar – the grand final of the Eurovision song contest. This year it is coming to you from Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine and, in the specific case of this live blog, from Walthamstow.

The show starts at 8pm BST, and will be hosted by Graham Norton, Julia Sanina, Alesha Dixon and Eurovision goddess Hannah Waddingham. It will feature 26 acts vying for the title. Sweden’s Loreen is hotly tipped to win, but Finland’s Käärijä, Israel’s Noa Kirel, and Noway’s Alessandra might have other plans.

There are loads of famous faces from Eurovision past set to appear, and there will be celebrations of Liverpool’s musical heritage, and tributes to Ukraine, who would be hosting tonight’s event if it wasn’t for Russia’s invasion of their country.

The comments will be open. It is always great fun, and one of my favourite evenings of the year. Well, except for the panicky bit right at the end when I’m trying follow the scores as they come, file a news story for tomorrow’s paper about who has won, and keep the live blog ticking over, while regretting my earlier drinking decisions. Please join me!