Eurovision hopefuls prepare for first semi-final
Nineteen countries including favourites Israel will bid to reach the grand final tonight.
Azerbaijan, Israel and Ireland are among the countries hoping to reach the grand final of Eurovision 2018 tonight in the first semi-final in Lisbon.
Israel’s Netta Barzilai, who will perform her song Toy, is the favourite with bookmakers to win this year’s competition.
Former Britain’s Got Talent finalist Ryan O’Shaughnessy will represent Ireland with the song Together.
Singer-songwriter SuRie is representing the UK this year with the song Storm.
A total of 19 acts will perform in the first semi-final, with only the top 10 – as decided by both a jury of experts and the public – qualifying for Saturday’s final line-up of 26 countries.
Scores will be weighted 50-50 between the marks from each competing nation’s professional jury and the results of the televote.
The event will be screened live on BBC Four, where Radio DJ Scott Mills and This Morning presenter Rylan Clark-Neal will interview contestants and explore host city Lisbon.
