Hola, bonsoir and willkommen! Tonight is the night millions across Europe have been waiting for as the Eurovision Song Contest final takes place in Sweden.
The competition has been rocked with a series of crises in the build up to the showpiece event in Malmo with the Dutch entrant axed and Ireland’s Bambie Thug absent from their final rehearsal – all happening amid heightened tensions in the city with pro-Palestinian protesters demanding Israeli singer Eden Golan is booted out.
With Olly Alexander flying the flag for the United Kingdom, MailOnline will bring you live coverage of the results as they come in plus all the latest news, analysis and reaction
Ireland’s Bambie Thug misses final rehearsal
Ireland’s entrant Bambie Thug has fulled doubts over whether they will perform at tonight’s final after pulling out of final rehearsals.
Eurovision organisers said they hoped the singer will take to the stage in Malmo later following a ‘situation’ that it hoped would be ‘resolved shortly’
A spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union said:
Bambie Thug did not perform in dress rehearsal three and the footage of their performance in dress rehearsal two was used in its place.
They missed the dress rehearsal due to a situation that is currently being discussed with the EBU and song contest organisers.
We hope that this will be resolved shortly and Bambie Thug will appear in the grand final show as planned.
Eurovision superfans gather in Malmo
With two hours to go before the final kicks off and excitement building across the UK and the continent, let’s take a look at some Eurovision superfans who have been pictured gathering in Malmo earlier today.
Let’s just recap that seismic development earlier today as Swedish police investigate Joost Klein over over an incident allegedly involving a female production crew member.
Amid already heightened tensions surrounding the contest with protests expected in Malmo over the inclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan, the incident has drawn more attention even before the singers take to the stage.
Read more here:
Good evening
It has been a dramatic day already in Malmo after Eurovision organisers disqualified Dutch contender Joost Klein (pictured) earlier today.
The 26-year-old singer and rapper was absent from two rehearsals on Friday and it has since emerged Swedish police are investigating a complaint allegedly made by a female member of the production crew.
It means 25 countries will now participate in tonight’s final which promises more entertainment with good, bad and downright bizarre performances ahead of us
Follow our blog as we guide you through the 68th edition of Eurovision