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What time is the Eurovision 2023 final? All your questions answered

Mae Muller is set to represent the UK at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena

Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham present the Eurovision 2023 semi-final
The Eurovision 2023 grand final will be held in Liverpool on Saturday. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Eurovision fans, the wait is over. The 2023 song contest is finally here.

Millions of people across Europe are set to tune into the singing extravaganza, as 37 countries vie to take home the prestigious trophy.

The event is being staged in the UK for the first time in 25 years, with Liverpool hosting on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.

Here is everything you need to know about Eurovision 2023.

When and where is the Eurovision 2023 final?

The Eurovision 2023 grand final will kick off at 8pm this Saturday, 13 May, at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

UK contestant Mae Muller will aim to become the first British winner since Katrina and the Waves in 1997. Her entry, I Wrote a Song, is an upbeat break-up track which takes aim at a cheating ex-boyfriend.

Read more: How many times has the UK won Eurovision?

"I've loved watching Eurovision all my life," the 25-year-old said, "so to compete in such a massive music competition is simply brilliant." She will be the 26th and final performer of the evening.

Mae Muller at a Eurovision press conference
Singer Mae Muller is the UK's act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. (Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

How can I watch Eurovision?

The bad news is that all tickets for the Eurovision 2023 final have sold out.

However, Saturday's event will be broadcast live on BBC One, iPlayer and Radio 2, meaning you can enjoy the festivities from the comfort of your living room. It will also be shown in more than 500 cinemas and on big screens in cities across the country.

The final will be hosted by ex-Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina.

Commentary duties will be shared by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc, while comedian and actor Catherine Tate will deliver the UK's results.

Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham present the Eurovision 2023 semi-final
Eurovision hosts Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Swedish entry Loreen is the bookmakers' favourite to win the contest, followed by Finnish musician Kaarija and Ukrainian electronic duo Tvorchi. Muller is considered an outside bet, with odds of 33/1 to win.

The final will feature special performances from last year's winners, Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, as well the UK's runner-up Sam Ryder.

There will also be performances from a string of Eurovision legends, including previous champions Netta, Duncan Laurence and Jamala, and Liverpool-born Sonia, who finished second in 1993.

Why is the UK hosting Eurovision?

Eurovision is traditionally hosted by the previous year's winners. However, organisers decided that this year's event could not take place in Ukraine due to Russia's war in the country. As a result, the UK was offered the chance to host Eurovision for a record-breaking ninth time.

Liverpool beat six other shortlisted cities, including Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, to be named the host city. Eurovision hasn't taken place in the UK since 1998, when Birmingham assumed hosting duties.

Tvorchi at a Eurovision press conference
Electronic duo Tvorchi will represent defending champions Ukraine. (Paul Ellis/AFP)

As the reigning champions, Ukraine automatically qualified for the grand final alongside the 'Big Five' nations – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The slogan of this year's event is 'United By Music', which the BBC said "reflects the power of music to bring people together", while the stage design was inspired from "a wide hug" to give the impression of "opening its arms to Ukraine".

Kalush Orchestra said they were "really grateful to the UK for hosting this party on our behalf", and pledged to "to show the world what Ukraine is fighting for".

But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been blocked from giving a video address during the final due to the "non-political nature of the event".

Watch: The songs that could win Eurovision