Eurovision 2017 final: LIVE updates as 26 acts go head-to-head to clinch this year's title

And this evening, Express.co.uk will be live-blogging the Eurovision Song Contest live while you cling onto your flags and watch the action unfold.

Singers from across the globe will take to the stage at Kiev’s International Exhibition Centre, where earlier this week 28 semi-finalists battled it out to land a place in tonight’s spectacle.

Lucie Jones will be representing the United Kingdom with her power balled Never Give Up On You.

The 26-year-old joins the acts from the other Big Five countries; France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who automatically land a place in the finale.

Though, she has a mighty mountain to climb after bookies placed odds on the Welsh-born singer at just 28/1 to bag first place. 

In a last minute shuffle, Portugal’s Salvador Sobral has replaced Italy’s Franceso Gabbani as frontrunners just hours before the contest gets underway. 

When is Eurovision 2017? How to watch it on TV, start time and running order

How to vote in Eurovision 2017? How has the voting format changed?

However, the Eurovision Song Contest has never been short of a few surprises year-on-year and tonight will undoubtedly be no different. 

For the first time ever, the contest will be presented by an all-male trio Oleksandr Skichko, Volodymyr Ostapchuk, and Timur Miroshnychenko, while Graham Norton will provide the running commentary for the United Kingdom. 

See below for all of the live updates from the Eurovision final…

10.11pm: And the voting is now open! Who’s got your vote?

10.08pm: France have been given the unfavourable honour of closing the night with Alma and her endless legs.

Sadly, that might be all she’s remembered for as the track Requiem is offering NOTHING. 

10.04pm: Bulgaria boast having the only artist of the night who was born in this century, which, frankly, makes us feel a little bit queasy. 

Though, that doesn’t stop Kristian Kostov pulling off one of the most confident performances of the night with Beautiful Mess. 

10.00pm: Robin Bengtsson’s slick Bruno Mars inspired track I Can’t Go On is another huge favourite that’s hotly tipped to do well tonight, and he’s doing little to suggest otherwise. 

The treadmills might be little reminiscent of Rylan’s days on The X Factor, but with those eyes, who cares? 

9.57pm: Belgium’s Blanche sounds even more bored with her track City Lights than we are.  

9.52pm: Make it stop Ukraine! O Torvald bring the noise, and not much else with Time – time to put the kettle on.

9.46pm: Germany have pulled out all the big guns for Levina’s track Perfect Life, roping in Demi Lovato songwriter Kerli for the single. 

But viewers are panning the single as a “rip off” of David Guetta’s Titanium, which isn’t an accolade anyone wants on their mantelpiece. 

9.43pm: Romania are genuinely moving musical mountains with their act Ilinca and Alex Florea and their track, Yodel It.

We never knew how much we needed a rap and yodel duet in our lives, but by god now we don’t need anything else.

9.33pm: And it’s finally time for Lucie! 

Well the staging is certainly a marvel, but whether the track will inspire anyone to pick up the phone and vote is another story. 

She’s nailing the vocal though! Easily the best of the night, and to think she was knocked out of The X Factor by Jedward!

9.28pm: Norway’s JOWST hoping to Grab The Moment. Everyone else is grabbing the mute button. 

Never mind killing the voice in your head, what about the one coming out of your mouth? 

9.22pm: Manel Navorro’s Do It For Your Lover. Well, when three men with guitars bouncing around the stage make Busted look good, you know you’re in trouble. Next.. 

9.18pm: Song 15 comes from Greece’s Demy, with This Is Love. Painfully slow start but what better way to salvage this than with a paddling pool? 

9.11pm: Meet Isiah Firebrace, the only Eurovison act ever to have never stepped foot in Europe before, and his track Don’t Come Easy. 

He may not have been to Europe, but that won’t stop him beating the UK. Sorry Lucie. 

9.07pm: Jacques Houdek is a name that we won’t forget in a hurry. 

Graham said it for us “genius”. Three minutes of user madness and it’s sensation as Jaques performs a duet – solo with My Friend, though it seems he couldn’t find any to perform with. 

9.04pm: Finally, some of the “lunacy” Graham promised us before. Azerbaijan’s Dihaj and her track Skeletons is suitably bonkers enough, but add a suited horse on a step ladder and you’re on to a winner. 

8.57pm: Now Salvador Sobral is tipped to be the first Portuguese act to win Eurovision with his stripped back Amar Pelos Dios. 

According to Graham, the La La Land inspired track has divided audiences, but those who love it LOVE IT. And we have to say we might be in camp LOVE IT too.

That’s 12 points form Express.co.uk!

8.56pm: Denmark are in for a good chance of winning with Anja’s Where I am, according to bookmakers. In fact, Scandinavian female-lead acts have consistently proven to be the most popular among viewers, unsurprisingly.

Yes, we know where you are. 

8.50pm: Now Italy’s Francesco Gabbani is one of the to favourites, initially THE favourite. Until he brought out… a gorilla. 

His single Occidentials Karma has been a huge hit across Europe, for reasons unbeknown to us. 

We’re not sure what’s worse, bringing out an actual gorilla or putting someone through the torture of wearing that outfit?

8.46pm: Now that monstrosity is over, it’s time for Hungary’s Joci Papai with his song Origo. 

8.41pm: Sunstroke Project are representing Moldova with Hey Mamma – not to be mistaken for the Black Eyed Peas ear-sore; it’s worse. 

8.37pm: It’s a sisterly affair for the Netherlands as OG3NE belt out their track Lights And Shadows, which comes complete with subtitles!

Stunning harmonies, but this song really belongs in the noughties – never to leave or be heard again.

8.32pm: Song number five is Armenia with their song Fly With Me. Interest fact from Graham: Armenia are regularly in the top 10 but have never won. 

Artsvik is in for a great chance with this though, and Graham agrees.

8.29pm: It’s been four years since goddess Conchita Wurst won Eurovision with her monumental beard and dress combo, but can Nathan Trent follow in footsteps? Possibly: Running On Air is definitely the catchiest song so far.

8.25pm: Belarus are up third with their track Story Of My Life, which is basically a take on everything ever performed by Mumford & Sons. Although, she might have saved it with that yodel! 

8.21pm: Hopefully Poland’s Kasia Mos will fair a little better. And she’s off to a great start – what a voice! And a great reception from the crowd. 

Oh, she loves us. We love you too!

8.17pm: Israel’s IMRI kicks of proceedings with his electrifying track I Feel Alive, but will anyone remember him by the end of the night? We’ll remember those flat notes! 

8.15pm: Did you hear that? You can only vote 20 times!  

8:13pm: Hosts Oleksandr Skichko, Volodymyr Ostapchuk and Timur Miroshnychenk step out in appropriately jazzy jackets but have we got to put up with this calibre of comedy all night? According to Graham, yes we do. 

8.11pm: Plenty of cheers for our girl Lucie! 

8.09pm: Graham admitted the show was already plagued with technical difficulties! 

8.05pm: And here are our acts. All the contestants march out one-by-one amid a tidal wave of flags, glitter and questionable outfits. 

8pm BST: And we’re off! Graham Norton promised a “cracking Eurovision” and plenty of “lunacy”, which is music to our ears!