Eurovision 2022

Just a matter of days stand in the way of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 final in Turin, Italy, and speculation is rife over who will win.

Also in the running, according to Betfair Exchange, are Greece, Poland and Norway with odds of 80/1 or less. In a break with recent tradition, the UK is tipped to come fourth with odds of 12/1. The Ukrainian act is favourite to win Eurovision 2022 with odds of 21/20, according to Betfair Exchange.

Lithuania are pinning their hopes on Eurovision glory to a much-loved star from their country - famous singer Monika Liu. Advertisement.

The singer, who studied jazz at a university in Klaipeda before heading to the Berkeley College of Music in Boston, has also recently appeared as a judge on the Lithuanian versions of The Voice and The Masked Singer. Since 2004, when she was first noticed on a Lithuanian talent show, Monika has been steadily working and already has three hit albums and plenty of fans who are thrilled she's flying the flag for them at Eurovision. Monika Liu, who was born Monika Liubinaitė in the coastal city of Klaipeda, is already a household name in her country.

As everyone's favourite music event makes a return for 2022, Eurovision fans are all wondering who will make it to the top of the leaderboard. Advertisement.

She jetted off to the United States of America and enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, before moving to Los Angeles to further hone her craft. While there, she made quite the impression and even opened for the likes of Jessie J. After initially thinking she wanted to be a vet, MARO soon realised she was going to continue in her nearest and dearests' footsteps and pursue a career in music, and learnt how to play piano and guitar.

It's undoubtedly a night that brings generations together, as families around the globe gather to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. Advertisement.

The song, which translates to 'With the Rising Sun' in English, has a simple but effective acoustic sound with gentle guitars and vocals. As well as performing as a trio, Sigga, Beta and Elín each have individual music careers as well. The family members all have a love and passion for singing and decided to come together to make blues and soul tracks in 2009, even performing at Glastonbury.

The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Turin, Italy. The semi-finals and final will take place at the same venue, the Pala Alpitour. How to watch ...

It can also be used to host sports like ice hockey, basketball and volleyball, so the capacity varies. Ukraine’s act, rap trio Kalush Orchestra, is tipped to take home the crown. The country that wins the previous Eurovision Song Contest is granted the honour of hosting the next one.

After some uncertainty, Israel will be taking part in the 2022 song contest - here's who's representing them! Israel's Eurovision 2022 entry Michael Ben David.

Israel hosted the contest for the third time in Tel Aviv in 2019. Michael will be representing Israel with the song "I.M", which is inspired by his childhood. On Friday, 29th April, KAN shared the news in a statement, which read: "Here is an official update: The security arrangements for the Israeli delegation to Eurovision Song Contest have been completed. After completing mandatory military service, he attended the Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts, which has produced a number of former Israeli Eurovision artists like Shiri Maimon, and Harel Skaat. He graduated in 2020. However, it looked like Israel could be about to drop out of Eurovision this year, due to a strike in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the middle of April, it was reported that Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest 2022 participation was uncertain due to a strike in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, a solution has now been found, and Israel will take part in this year's show.

The Eurovision semi-finals begin tonight ahead of this year's grand final on Saturday, May 14.

“And if you’re fearful about your decision, or where you come on a leaderboard, it goes by even quicker. The second Eurovision semi-final will be broadcast on BBC 3 at 8pm on Thursday, May 12. The first Eurovision semi-final will be broadcast on BBC 3 at 8pm on Tuesday, May 10.

On Tuesday, 17 competing countries plus France and Italy -- both automatic finalists -- will choose the 10 acts to perform in the final on Saturday.

"They are authentic, original and really unique and that is what we want to showcase." Albania's "Sekret" and Iceland's "Með hækkandi sól" are also expected to make it to the final on Saturday. "We are here to show that Ukrainian music and Ukrainian culture exist," he said on Sunday at the official kick-off of the competition.

The international music competition began tonight on BBC Three. talian television presenter Alessandro Cattelan, Italian singer Laura Pausini and Lebanese-born ...

- Germany But who has made it through to the final? You can unsubscribe at any time.

Storming the stage as the first performer, Ronela commanded attention in a glittering silver bodysuit and a fleet of male dancers and one female choreographer.

Fans will also be able to catch the competition on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. The Grand Final on Saturday, May 14, will start at 8pm and be available to view on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Eurovision semi-finals that are taking place on Tuesday, May 10, and Thursday, May 12, will be broadcast on BBC Three and be available on BBC iPlayer.

Kalush Orchestra, who are tipped to win the song contest, secured an easy victory in the first semi-final.

Ten more acts will progress to the main competition after Thursday's second semi-final. "For our country it is so important to have victories in all ways," he said. The other countries whose journey ended on Tuesday were Albania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Denmark. "We were just focusing on the message of the song, and we wanted to bring hope to people that are going through hard times, like Ukraine, and all of us that have been struggling through Covid." The chorus of the song featured a mournful, meditative repetition of the word "saudade" - which doesn't have a direct translation in English, but which the singer says represents "the desire to have someone back when you know you can't". But the competition kicked off in earnest with Ronela Hajati - Albania's answer to Madonna, whose song Sekret was about a romantic tryst with a boy "who came from the mountains".

Eurovision fans stood in solidarity with Ukraine as they performed at the semi-finals tonight.

Kalush previously told Eurovision TV of their involvement this year: ‘We feel a big responsibility, since we received permits to leave Ukraine to be here. We’ve enjoyed seeing people singing our song, even if they didn’t know all the words. ‘We’re all very hard working, and we’re all doing what we can to make this happen.

The Eurovision stage saw some memorable costumes, dance moves and decor tonight as 17 countries were competing to qualify for the grand final, on Saturday.

They are - in no particular order: Switzerland, Armenia, Iceland, Lithuania, Portugal, Norway, Greece, Ukraine, Moldova and the Netherlands. The song even had to be censored by the European Broadcasting Union due to swearing or unacceptable language. Ukraine was the favourite to win Eurovision 2022.

The mystery duo, who are known only as Keith and Jim, are representing their country in the 2022 singing competition. They'll be flying out to Turin in Italy ...

Ukraine are performing against the odds in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest – despite the fact that men of fighting age are currently not allowed to leave ...

Bookies currently have Ukraine tipped to win the Eurovision final for 2022. But who have Ukraine put forward as a representative and what do the experts have to say on the matter? Ukraine are performing against the odds in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest – despite the fact that men of fighting age are currently not allowed to leave the country.

See the result of the draws for the Grand Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The draws determines in which half of the Grand Final each country will ...

The draws determines in which half of the Grand Final each country will participate in The 66th Eurovision Song Contest takes place on 10, 12 and 14 May 2022. See the result of the draws for the Grand Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

Seven other countries were booted out of the song contest following a tense semi-final in Turin, Italy.

The UK is among the Big Five countries – also including Spain, Germany, France and Italy – who do not have to qualify from the semi-final stage and gain automatic access to the final. Moldova’s representative Zdob si Zdub & Advahov Brothers, who were competing for a third time, secured a spot in the final after giving a quirky performance of their song Trenuletul which combined rock and folk style. Quirky staging also won over voters as Armenia’s Rosa Linn performed her song Snap while in a white bedroom made of pieces of paper and Greece’s Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord delivered powerful vocals on Die Together surrounded by broken chairs. Ukraine delivered an energetic performance of their song Stefania while dressed in elaborate outfits including long multicoloured fringed ensembles and traditional patterns to secure a place in the final. The pop group performed their song Give That Wolf A Banana as they dressed in their signature all-black outfits featuring yellow wolf-head masks. Switzerland’s offering of Marius Bear also made the cut with his raw rendition of his track Boys Do Cry backdropped by simple lighting.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the music event, banned Russia from the 2022 competition following its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Fronted by Kyiv rapper, Oleh Psiuk, the Kalush Orchestra also consists of multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk and dancer Vlad Kurochka. Ukraine has selected the rap trio Kalush Orchestra to compete. After Russia’s exit, a total of 40 countries will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy this week.

After the first semi-finals of Eurovision 2022 there seems to be a clear winner ahead of Saturday night, according to the bookies odds.

The odds of them winning have now shot ahead to a 47% chance, with Eurovision website, eurovisionworld.com collating all the bookmaker's odds, here. Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra was successful in getting through to the final in Turin - along with nine other countries - with their traditional-hip-hop fusion track, Stefania. UK's Sam Ryder with Space Man is third favourite to win with a 10% chance, with Italy sandwiched in between UK and Ukraine, in second place with a 15% chance.

Ukraine's Eurovision 2022 commentator broadcast from inside a bomb shelter during the first semi-final, as Kalush Orchestra made it to final.

‘Our commentator Timur Miroshnychenko works from a bomb shelter. Having launched his TV career in 2005 as a commentator for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Timur went on to become the commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest two years later. Back in their home country, Timur Miroshnychenko – the nation’s commentator for Eurovision – was still carrying out his job, while staying safe in a bomb shelter as the conflict continues.

'I think music is over now.' Patrick Freyne watches the first semifinal of Eurovision.

Their song, Give that Wolf a Banana, contains the refrain of “Yum, yum, yum” and a verse that goes: “Not sure I told you but I really like your teeth, That hairy coat of yours with nothing underneath, Not sure you have a name so I will call you Keith.” I really respect this. The second semifinal is on Thursday. Armenia “I will keep up with the show.” “Boys do cry,” he sings, standing in the middle of a broken heart, with another broken heart projected on his face in case you missed the point. There is always a metal act at the Eurovision. It’s the law. They are accompanied by a spacemen. She sings mournfully, like a particularly glamorous school principal driven to despair by budget cuts. The Eurovision is a miraculous thing. Switzerland’s Marius Bear (not a real bear) has spent years brooding over the Cure’s ode to male stoicism, Boys Don’t Cry. Marius Bear loves crying and has written a sweetly swelling torch song to that effect. Mia Dimsic from Croatia sings Guilty with a guitar around her neck and three dancers dramatically enacting a love triangle nearby. “I will never let it go,” they sing. In your household do you stand and salute when you hear the Eurovision anthem?

Ahead of the big night this weekend, here are some of the most popular Eurovision songs that people are already enjoying.

Now, Sam Ryder’s entry song has surpassed four million streams on Spotify, placing him in the top ten of this year’s most streamed Eurovision entries globally. What's more, it’s in the top 10 foreign Eurovision entries for every single other participating country. Looking ahead to Eurovision 2022 this weekend, streaming data is placing Italy as a likely winner for the second year running.

Norway will be represented by Subwoolfer in Eurovision 2022 after making it through the heats to the final.

See you in Turin, legends!” Give that wolf a banana Give that wolf a banana

As we approach the Grand Final of the 65th Eurovision Song Contest, we answer the question: Is Russia taking part in the contest this year?

Russia is banned from taking part in the Eurovision Son Contest 2022. See your questions on Eurovision answered below. And are Ukraine favourites to win?