I’m joining you late for #Eurovision due to a family event. But hello and good to be with you.

Well it’s semifinal 2 and I am running about 45 minutes late … but thanks for joining me again. #Eurovision

Well that opening video for the #Eurovision semi final went somewhere I didn’t expect and I am currently wiping away a tear. What a charming start.

It’s just after 2am here & my heart rate is returning to normal. Both the jury and popular vote were complex, divided & unpredictable this year. But an incredible voice won. See you in 2026 for the next #Eurovision

So having sat through 2 semi finals and 26 songs this evening … France and Switzerland top for me but Sweden and Finland may do very well in the popular vote. The jury vote may well decide this. #Eurovision

I find the female vocals for Albania haunting, the male one’s are a little creepy. Might get a bounce being late in the competition. Or are people already in the fridge looking for snacks? #Eurovision

San Marino may suffer from the #Eurovision fatigue - didn’t we hear something like that earlier? Is that in Italian too?

France hasn’t won since 1977 and this matches its excellent 2021 entry. Distinctive staging, has something to say in its lyrics and a teary ending. Could do very well. #Eurovision

I think the harmonies in this song from Sweden are under-rated. It’s a good song, fun staging but it’s got a fight on to win #Eurovision

We’re back into the club thanks to Denmark and she belts this out but I am not sure if it will stand out, despite the crowd going mad for it. #Eurovision

Portugal has found a niche in #Eurovision since its 2017 win: charming and heartfelt songs. The Swiss song beats this for me but it’s another charmer.

I wonder if the song from Malta is a triumph of clever controversy over a great song. It’ll do well - and the staging isn’t bad at all. #Eurovision

I really like this from Switzerland: charming, tells a story. It would be lovely for them to do the double and host in 2026, 70 years after they hosted the first #Eurovision

Drama and a topless chap thanks to Armenia: again, this is a varied competition with something for everyone. #Eurovision

Greece: I can’t feel we’ve seen this sort of song and staging before. Strong vocals but doesn’t quite grab me. #Eurovision

There has been an awful lot of “La La La” this year, including from Germany: but Berghain kicked her out without all her outfit so she had to rush the lyric writing. #Eurovision

I lost concentration during Poland: is it the dull song or the wine to blame? Perhaps both. #Eurovision

In a loud, noisy contest, this is charming from Italy. It’s not a winner but shows there’s something for everyone in this competition. #Eurovision

Well Finland knows the #Eurovision audience: innuendo dressed up in a catchy pop song with strong staging. Could do very well.

Some more French! A bit of early 00s Francophone pop: should be top half of the table for Netherlands but a tad pitchy tonight, sadly. #Eurovision

This is my people: Latvia! The costumes remind me of summer solstice outfits. This performance is better than their semi final but sadly doesn’t quite engage enough to win. #Eurovision

God bless Iceland: for a country with the population about the same as Stoke on Trent, it comes up with some pop. Fun but not a winner. #Eurovision

If Switzerland hadn’t won with an operatic pop number then this from Austria would be a Ben more distinctive. Great voice. But Nemo outclassed him last year. #Eurovision

UK: what happened? Well Swarovski seems to now have lost a chandelier too. Great harmonies and personalities but was this the best song for these ladies? #Eurovision

You wouldn’t believe these were the same wooden hosts we had in the first semi: there’s humour and personality tonight which is great to see. #Eurovision

Ukraine has a great run in the competition but I am really not sure how this got out of the semis. Feels disjointed and a bit pitchy. #Eurovision

I like this from Spain but it takes a while to get to the chorus and is a bit lost in the show running order too. #Eurovision

There’s a Baltic / Nordic resurgence this year: and this from Lithuania seems to be destined to be the soundtrack to be a slightly harrowing police drama. #Eurovision

Israel: I think Swarovski have lost their staircase. #Eurovision

Another recurring theme this year is countries singing in a language that isn’t their own. Estonia in Italian isn’t quite comic or catchy enough to pull this off. #Eurovision