RECAP Eurovision 2023 semi-final 2: results, performances and qualified acts through to Grand Final

Sweden’s Loreen provided the standout performance in the first Eurovision semi-final at the M&S Arena on Tuesday night and safely booked a place in the Grand Final.

There was heartache for Ireland’s Wild Youth, however, who were among the five acts eliminated from the 15-strong field by the voting public.

The 10 countries who made it through to the grand final were Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.

They join Ukraine, who qualify as last year’s winners, plus France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK who go through as key contributors to funding Eurovision.

Netherlands, Malta, Latvia and Azerbaijan joined Ireland in going out of the competition.

Denmark’s TikTok star Reiley will open the show tonight. Australian rockers Voyager close the show. The full running order is below.

Sophie Ellis Bextor brought her Kitchen Disco to Liverpool‘s John Lewis department store for a special Eurovision celebration this afternoon.

The singer and BBC Radio 2 DJ played a series of party anthems and Eurovision entries and also gave a performance of Groove Jet.

She can be seen here dancing along to Finland‘s entry - Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä - with staff and fans in the kitchen and homeware department of the store.

Sam Ryder, who finished second behind Ukraine in 2022 with his song Space Man, gets the crowd at the Albert Dock in the mood ahead of the second Eurovision semi final.

You might need one of these umbrellas if you are heading down to the Eurovision Village like this UK fan to watch the live screening of the semi-final tonight. The Met Office have issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms!

However, there is only a 10% chance of rain at around 7pm, according to the weather experts, and we might even see some late evening sun peeking out from behind the clouds by 8pm.

Our reporter Emma Dukes is heading to the Eurovision Village and the M&S Arena tonight to check out the atmosphere. With 1hr 30mins to go, there is already a large queue of fans waiting to grab a prime location at the live screening. But at least the rain has stopped.

With just under an hour to go before the show starts. Here’s a reminder of that running order.

£8.50 for a double pink gin

£5 for a doughnut

Semi-Final Two begins at 8pm and after all 16 of the acts have performed on stage the public will be able to vote for their favourite.

Fans can vote using the official Eurovision App or go directly to www.esc.vote – the new voting hub for the Eurovision Song Contest.

For the very first time viewers watching in eligible countries not participating in this year’s competition will also be able to vote, as ‘rest of the world’.

After the votes have been verified, the 10 acts going through will be announced in no particular order.

The second semi-final begins in two minutes so get the snacks and the drinks in.

It’s filling up at the live screening at Pier Head.

Emma says: “There’s no pushing or anyone being aggressive or anything. Feels very safe as a girl by myself, lovely atmosphere. Getting through security is a breeze and they’re all polite and nice even if you forget to take your Apple Watch off to go through the scanner like me.”