Eurovision 2022: Everything you need to know about this year's song contest

Eurovision 2022 is nearly here, so it's time to dig out your Union Jack flag and sparkly clothes for the biggest party of the year.

The world's biggest music competition returns with 40 countries competing in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. Starting with two semi-finals on Tuesday 10 May and Thursday 12 May, before the Grand Final which will air live on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 on the evening of Saturday 14 May.

Don't know your ABBA from your Lordi or your Gina G from your Katrina and the Waves? Here's our quick bluffer’s guide so you understand what’s happening at this year's musical extravaganza...

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Is there a Eurovision in 2022 and when is it?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 grand final takes place on Saturday, 14 May.

What is the Eurovision 2022 running order?

1. Czech Republic
2. Romania
3. Portugal
4. Finland
5. Switzerland
6. France
7. Norway
8. Armenia
9. Italy
10. Spain
11. Netherlands
12. Ukraine
13. Germany
14. Lithuania
15. Azerbaijan
16. Belgium
17. Greece
18. Iceland
19. Moldova
20. Sweden
21. Australia
22. United Kingdom
23. Poland
24. Serbia
25. Estonia

What time does Eurovision 2022 start?

Watch the 65th Eurovision Song Contest on BBC One from 8pm to midnight.

Where is Eurovision 2022 taking place?

Italy will play host to the 2022 contest following the country's victory in 2021 in Rotterdam with 'Zitti E Buoni' performed by Måneskin.

The contest will take place in the PalaOlimpico in Turin. The 13,300-seat arena hosts concerts and exhibitions, and was the venue for the ice hockey events at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Who are the UK's Eurovision presenters and commentators?

Graham Norton will be presenting and commentating on Eurovision 2022 for the BBC.

Norton took over from Terry Wogan as the host of the UK's Eurovision coverage in 2009.

The final and results will also air live on BBC Radio 2 with Ken Bruce hosting the coverage live from Turin.

"I can't quite believe this will be my 34th time presenting Eurovision," said Bruce.

"I'm thrilled that this year I'll be able to once again make the trip to see the final live in the host country, Italy, having had to cover it from a Wogan House studio in 2022. Turin, I can't wait to be there!

"And of course huge luck to the UK's entry, Sam Ryder with Space Man."

Who will be revealing the scores of the UK jury vote?

TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant AJ Odudu will be the United Kingdom’s spokesperson, delivering the all-important results live from Salford for the very first time.

Who are the Eurovision presenters in Turin, Italy?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will be hosted in Turin, Italy by Laura Pausini, Alessandro Cattelan and Mika.

Laura Pausini is an Italian recording artist with four Latin Grammys, a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe, and received an Oscar nomination.

Alessandro Cattelan is known for presenting Italy's Total Request Live and The X Factor.

Mika is the international popstar who shot to fame with the hit single Grace Kelly in 2007.

Who is the UK's Eurovision 2022 act?

The United Kingdom will be represented at Eurovision 2022 by singer Sam Ryder. 

With over 12 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok, Sam is currently the most followed UK music artist on the platform.

He was revealed as the 2022 UK Eurovision act in March.

He will perform the song Space Man, a former Tune Of The Week on Scott Mills’ Afternoon Show on BBC Radio 1.

As the world went into lockdown in March 2020, Sam uploaded the first of his now famous covers onto the popular social media platform and his extraordinary vocals quickly caught the attention of celebrity fans including Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys, who even posted her own video reacting to Sam’s cover of her song If I Ain’t Got You.

As the videos kept coming so did the fans, with his social media standing on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook now at well over 17 million followers.

Sam has also just completed his first sold-out UK tour.

Sam Ryder co-wrote Space Man with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud) and Max Wolfgang.

Sam Ryder said: "Having been a fan of Eurovision since I was a kid I am so honoured to have been presented with the opportunity to sing at an event alongside some of Europe’s most talented creatives, performers and songwriters.

"I hope to sing my head off in a way the UK can be proud of, and to showcase a song I wrote with my friends last summer makes the whole experience even more special. See you in Turin legends!"

When did the UK last win Eurovision?

The last UK winner of Eurovision was Katrina and the Waves in 1997 with the song Love Shine a Light.

The UK has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times.

• 1967: Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String
• 1969: Lulu - Boom Bang-a-Bang
• 1976: Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses for Me
• 1981: Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
• 1997: Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine a Light

Not only has the UK not won Eurovision for 25 years, it’s also been over a decade since we last finished in the Top 10. Jade Ewen was the last singer to achieve that feat, finishing fifth in 2009.

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Adding to our recent woes, the UK has finished in last place five times in the last 20 years. Jemini, Andy Abraham, Josh Dubovie, Michael Rice and 2021 act James Newman all propped up the leaderboard, with both Jemini and Newman finishing with the dreaded nul points!

Let’s hope Sam Ryder can finally turn the tide and get a respectable result for the UK in 2022.

Who won Eurovision 2021?

Måneskin, featuring vocalist Damiano, bassist Victoria, guitarist Thomas and Ethan on drums, were the 2021 winners for Italy.

The winning song was Zitti E Buoni.

The band got 524 points to claim top spot in last year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Who are this year's Eurovision acts, countries and songs?

The 25 acts in the grand final are:

• Armenia
  Act: Rosa Linn
  Song: Snap

• Australia
  Act: Sheldon Riley
  Song: Not the Same

• Azerbaijan
  Act: Nadir Rustamli
  Song: Fade to Black

• Belgium
  Act: Jérémie Makiese
  Song: Miss You

• Czech Republic
  Act: We Are Domi
  Song: Lights Off

• Estonia
  Act: Stefan
  Song: Hope

• Finland
  Act: The Rasmus
  Song: Jezebel

• France
  Act: Alvan and Ahez
  Song: Fulenn

• Germany
  Act: Malik Harris
  Song: Rockstars

• Greece 
  Act: Amanda Tenfjord
  Song: Die Together

• Iceland
  Act: Sigga, Beta and Elín
  Song: Með hækkandi sól

• Italy
  Act: Mahmood & Blanco
  Song: Brividi

• Lithuania
  Act: Monika Liu
  Song: Sentimentai

• Moldova
  Act: Zdob și Zdub and Frații Advahov
  Song: Trenulețul

• The Netherlands
  Act: S10
  Song: De diepte

• Norway
  Act: Subwoolfer
  Song: Give That Wolf a Banana

• Poland
  Act: Ochman
  Song: River

• Portugal
  Act: Maro
  Song: Saudade, saudade

• Romania
  Act: WRS
  Song: Llámame

• Serbia
  Act: Konstrakta
  Song: In corpore sano

• Spain
  Act: Chanel
  Song: SloMo

• Sweden
  Act: Cornelia Jakobs
  Song: Hold Me Closer

• Switzerland
  Act: Marius Bear
  Song: Boys Do Cry

• Ukraine
  Act: Kalush Orchestra
  Song: Stefania

• United Kingdom
  Act: Sam Ryder
  Song: Space Man

How does Eurovision voting work? 

The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest is chosen through two semi-finals and a grand final.

After all the songs have been performed, each country awards two sets of scores to their 10 favourite acts, with 12 points going to the favourite, 10 to the second best and 8 points down to 1 point to the rest of the top 10. One score comes from the votes of the viewers at home, while the other comes from a jury of professionals.

You can’t vote for your own country.

After all the votes have been cast, a spokesperson from each country will reveal the jury points awarded.

Once all the jury points have been revealed, the viewer votes will then be added to the scores to reveal the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The result of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest will be determined by a 50/50 vote. 50% of the votes come from the televoting in each participating country, and the other 50% from each country's jury's decision. 

What are the Eurovision rules?

Each country chooses an act and song, which can be a maximum of 3 minutes long and must not have been released before.

20 countries qualify for the grand final from semi-finals which take place earlier in the week. They join the host country and the ‘Big 5’ - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom - who all qualify automatically for the grand final.

In the grand final, 26 acts must sing live, but must not have live instruments.

What is the Eurovision prize?

The Eurovision winners get the iconic glass microphone trophy and the chance to perform again at the end of the show.

The winner will also earn their country the chance to host the contest the following year.

Why are Ireland not in Eurovision 2022?

Ireland did enter Eurovision 2022, but failed to qualify from the second semi-final.

They were represented by the singer Brooke with the song That's Rich.

The other countries eliminated in the semi-finals were Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Austria, Denmark, Croatia, Israel, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Cyprus, North Macedonia  and Montenegro.

Are Ukraine in Eurovision 2022?

Despite current global events, Ukraine will still take part in Eurovision 2022.

Kalush Orchestra are representing Ukraine with the track Stefania.

They qualified from the first semi-final on Tuesday night (10 May).

Russia, however, have been banned from Eurovision 2022.

Eurovision odds - who are the bookies' favourites?

The bookies' clear favourites going into the grand final are Ukraine.

Kalush Orchestra are hotly tipped to win comfortably with the track Stefania.

Surprisingly, after years of disappointment, the UK are backed to do well with Sam Ryder's Space Man joint second favourite at 6/1 alongside Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs.

Current champions Italy, who are represented by Mahmood and Blanco, and Spain's Chanel are also tipped for success.

Who are the most successful Eurovision acts of all time?

ABBA are the most famous Eurovision winners. The Swedish pop act won in Brighton in 1974 with Waterloo and went on to enjoy phenomenal chart success all over the world over the course of the next decade.

Other noteworthy Eurovision winners have included Lulu, Brotherhood of Man, Celine Dion, Conchita Wurst, Mans Zelmerlow and Dana International.

Who is the most successful Eurovision country of all time?

Ireland is the most successful country at Eurovision with seven wins.

Sweden has won the contest six times, while Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have won five times.

What is the Eurovision theme music?

Every edition of the Eurovision Song Contest begins with the familiar strains of the Prelude of Te Deum by French Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. 

Charpentier wrote the piece in the late 17th century, but the manuscript was lost for 250 years until 1953, when it was rediscovered by French musicologist Carl de Nys in the National Library of Paris.

It was soon recorded and when the newly founded European Broadcasting Union was looking for a theme to introduce its continent-wide broadcasts, it chose Charpentier's triumphant fanfare.

Almost 70 years on Te Deum is still used by the EBU, and while the organisation does broadcast other events, the 300-year-old hymn has become known as the Eurovision theme tune. 

Why do the big 5 automatically qualify for Eurovision?

The Big Five (formerly Big Four) are the  countries who make the biggest financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The Big 5 are:

1. UK

2. France

3. Italy (Since 2011)

4. Spain

5. Germany 

A rule was created in 2000, which meant the Big Five all automatically got a spot in the Eurovision final, regardless of previous performances.

They also don't have to qualify through the live semi-finals.

Why is Australia in Eurovision?

Australia first took part in Eurovision in 2015, to mark the 60th Eurovision Song Contest - the competition has been hugely popular Down Under since it was first broadcast live there in 1983.

It was planned as a one-off event, but they have continued to take part and are signed up until 2023.

Other countries outside of Europe who have taken part in Eurovision include Israel - who have won it four times - and Morocco, who took part in 1980.

Israel take part as they are a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Watch the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, 14 May at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.