Semi-Final 1

Live coverage from Vienna of the first semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest as 15 countries vie for ten places in Saturday’s grand final. Expect powerful vocals, spectacular staging and a nail-biting results sequence.

Highlights include early favourites Finnish duo Linda and Pete – with a mix of pop, rock and classical violin – and British superstar Boy George, who makes his Eurovision debut... for San Marino. Best known for topping the UK charts with Culture Club, he will be joining singer Senhit on stage, who is representing San Marino for the third time and hoping for her best result yet with their song Superstar.

Also performing, but already guaranteed a place in Saturday’s grand final, are the acts representing two of the 'Big Four’: Sarah Engels, who hopes to bring the ‘Fire’ for Germany, and Italy’s Sal Da Vinci whose love song Per sempre sì has already dominated the Italian charts.

Following JJ’s win for Austria with Wasted Love last year, the 70th edition of the contest will be held in the capital city of Vienna, where the competition was last held in 2015.

Hosting the live shows are Austrian stars Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, who will introduce this year’s artists, announce the all-important results and even take to the stage themselves, with a comedy musical interval performance that aims to finally settle how to easily distinguish Austria from Australia.