Do your Wurst ..time to launch Eurovision

We are now officially in Eurovision season.

Last night was marked by the first of Liverpool’s string of concerts ahead of Saturday’s live final.

Hosts AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett kicked off The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome with a fitting tribute to the city, as well as tributes to Ukraine, on whose behalf the UK is hosting the contest.

There was a reunion of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, while Eurovision legend Conchita Wurst took to the stage and pop star Zara Larsson collaborated with Liverpool rock band Cream.

Local legends the Lightning Seeds, Atomic Kitten, Shirley Ballas, Ricky Tomlinson and Jurgen Klopp all featured, with love letters to the city. It comes after the UK’s entrant Mae Muller revealed she had “technical issues” during her rehearsal and said she would “pray” that it sounded better on the day. Highlights from the

Can I have your cape for Eurovision, please?’

BBC presenter Rylan Clark asks Tory MP Penny Mordaunt for her Coronation Safiyaa dress for Saturday’s live final

event and the Turquoise Carpet opening ceremony will air on BBC One at 6.30pm tonight as part of a special show, Eurovision Welcomes The World.

One of the event’s presenters, Jason Manford, claims Eurovision benefits from focusing on fun.

“It does not take itself too seriously,” he says. “Everything else in today’s world takes itself incredibly seriously and Eurovision knows that it’s just a bit of fun.

“It has very humble and noble meanings behind it to try to connect a war-torn Europe, and really we’ve been war-torn ever since, from Brexit or various things.

“So it brings people together and everyone says, ‘Let’s forget about all that and have a sing-song’.”