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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daisy Naylor

How to watch Eurovision 2019: Semi-final and final TV channel and times

The Eurovision Song Contest is underway, with 41 countries vying for a place in the grand final on Saturday night.

People from around the world tune in to watch Eurovision, with questionable lyrics and spectacular staging (as well as Graham Norton's famous commentary) making it an unmissable event.

This year's competition - the 64th annual Eurovision - takes place in Israel, who won the contest last year.

The action takes place over three nights, with two semi-finals determining which acts perform in Saturday night's final.

Here's everything you need to know:

What channel is Eurovision on?

The next semi-final of Eurovision is on BBC Four on Thursday 16 May - tonight - between 8pm and 10pm. Rylan Clark-Neal and Scott Mills will be commentating.

The Eurovision final will be on BBC One on Saturday 18 May, from 8pm until 11:40 pm. Graham Norton will be commentating.

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Is the UK in the Eurovision semi-final?

The UK does not compete in the Eurovision semi-finals, because it is one of five countries to automatically get a place in the final.

The 'big five' - the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy - are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcast Union, and so they get a free ride in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Israel also goes straight through to the final this year, as they won the contest in 2018.

Which acts have made it through to the Eurovision final?

Aside from the 'big five' and Israel, ten acts have so far made it through to the Eurovision final . Greece, Belarus, Serbia, Cyprus, Estonia, Czech Republic, Australia, Iceland, San Marino and Slovenia all won a place in the first semi-final, which was held on Tuesday 14 May.

Iceland made it through to the Eurovision final (ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/REX)

18 more countries will compete in the semi-final on Thursday night.

How to vote in the Eurovision semi-final

To vote for which acts make it through to the Eurovision final, you can either call the on-screen numbers during the show, or you can vote with the official Eurovision app.

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