The most watched non-sporting event in the world finally gets under way this week, as the Eurovision Song Contest hits Liverpool.

More than 160 million people will tune in over the next few days as Merseyside hosts the annual competition on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine.

As you know by now, Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 contest in Turin, with their ode to mothers, Stefania.

But obviously, the show couldn’t be held there while Russia wages war on its neighbour, so the organisers said the BBC would host the contest this year, largely due to Sam Ryder coming second with Space Man.

Tickets for the live shows (of which there are nine!) sold out in less than 40 minutes, and hotels in the city were snapped up at breakneck speed as British fans of the contest try to get their glimpse of Eurovision history.

So who should we be listening out for? What tracks do the bookies like? Who has the tune that will make us laugh, and what happens during the week?

Who is hosting?

The BBC acts as host broadcaster for the UK, as a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – a group of outlets across the continent (and beyond) that are publicly funded.

On stage in Liverpool for the live shows will be:
• Ted Lasso and musical theatre star Hannah Waddingham
• Former Britain’s Got Talent judge and garage music legend Alesha Dixon
• Ukrainian musician and presenter Julia Sanina
• Chat show host and Eurovision icon Graham Norton

Mel Giedroyc will share commentating duties with Norton during the final, while Rylan Clark and Scott Mills will take charge for the semi-finals.

Who is taking part?

To start with, 37 countries will take part across the week, and be whittled down to 26 for the final.

Six countries get automatic entry into the main show – Ukraine as previous winners, followed by the “big five” of the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – the countries who contribute the most financially to the event.

Going in semi-final one will be: Norway, Malta, Serbia, Latvia, Portugal, Ireland, Croatia, Switzerland, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Finland.

Going in the second semi-final are: Denmark, Armenia, Romania, Estonia, Belgium, Cyprus, Iceland, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Georgia, San Marino, Austria, Albania, Lithuania and Australia.

And to just get in before you ask “why Australia?” – it is a member of the EBU (and therefore eligible) and is Eurovision MAD.

Russia will not participate, after being banned from the event by the EBU.

How does voting work?

There have been a few changes to the voting system this year, which could make a huge difference to the outcome.

The semi-finals will be decided by telephone votes alone – with no juries making decisions for those nights.

For the final, both the national juries of each country (made up of industry experts) and public votes will decide a winner.

And for the first time, viewers from non-participating countries will be allowed to vote in each show, with an aggregated result presented as “Rest of the World”.

Countries award 12 points to their favourite act, with 10 for second, 8 for third, then down to one for the others.

Jury votes are announced first, and they are the ones revealed by national spokespersons (Good evening Liverpool it’s Paris calling, for instance), followed by a very tense, and speedy, addition of the phone vote results.

Last year, the UK’s Sam Ryder topped the jury voting leader board, but was nudged into second after the public tally was added.

Who are the favourites?

Sweden. It’s always Sweden – it is the master of contemporary Eurovision.

Loreen returns to the contest, after winning it in 2012 with Euphoria, with her new song Tattoo.

She smashed the country’s (six-week long!) selection contest, and is odds-on favourite to storm up the leader board in Liverpool too.

Winning this year would put Sweden level with Ireland for most wins (seven!) AND make Loreen the first woman to win it more than once.

But it’s not certain.

Finland is also having a strong showing with Käärijä’s hyper-pop-rap tune Cha Cha Cha – a track he described to Sky News as “very much power and energy and fire”.

The 29-year-old is also known for wearing his neon green sleeves-only puffer jacket and unique haircut.

Ukraine, of course, is also up there in the betting, with Tvorchi’s track Heart of Steel, and will be desperately hoping to win once more, so the contest can be taken back home – the pair were selected during a show hosted in a working, public and open underground train station.

Spain’s Blanca Paloma, Norway’s Alessandra and France’s La Zarra are also expected to put in a challenge for the top spot.

Which tracks should you listen out for?

Look, it’s not just the winning, is it? It’s about what tracks you are going to hum for a week, and those typically Eurovision-style songs.

Austria could take the crown for this year’s most bizarre song – with Teya and Salena’s entry Who The Hell Is Edgar?, which is all about the ghost of American writer Edgar Allan Poe.

They told Sky News the track was the result of improvisation and a bit of fun, which now sees them on the biggest stage in music.

Croatia also has a pretty odd song – with shock-rock band Let 3 singing their track Mama SC.

Lyrics (sung in Croatian) include, “Mama bought the tractor”, “Armageddon granny” and “War, war, evil little psychopath” – and they’ll be dressed in colourful military uniforms which appear to be inspired by The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club.

An anecdote in long-running celeb-gossip newsletter Popbitch suggests the group have been in trouble in their native Croatia for performing naked. More than once.

Also listen out for Australia, which has sent Voyager – a veteran prog-metal band who said their track is like “Duran Duran, but heavy” – which should do well with UK voters.

How might the UK do?

Mae Muller is the UK’s hopeful this year, with a poppy, energetic break-up tune called I Wrote A Song.

The track has been well received, shooting up the UK charts and getting a very loud reception at the warm-up shows across Europe.

It should comfortably make at least the top 10 on the night – helped by the song’s full graphics production, dance routine and crowd pleasing “da dada dada da” section.

Who else is performing?

Kalush Orchestra return to the contest as last year’s victors to open the final, while Sam Ryder will perform in the interval.

A number of Ukrainian acts from years past will perform during the flag parade in the final, featuring the likes of Go_A, 2016 winner Jamala, and cult Eurovision legend Verka Serduchka (the name might not ring a bell, but you’ll recognise them when you see them…).

Popular recent acts from across the continent have also been flown in for a “Liverpool Songbook” section, with will see performers such as Israel’s Netta, Italy’s Mahmood, Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs, the Netherlands’ Duncan Lawrence, and probable winner of the cancelled 2020 contest – Iceland’s Dadi Freyr.

Scouse hero Sonia also performs in the final, while Rita Ora and Rebecca Ferguson go in the first semi.

But rumours are continuing to swirl of a major big name act for the final that hasn’t been revealed – so keep your eyes open during the interval.

How can I watch?

Sky News will of course be there in Liverpool with updates, a live blog, and all the biggest news from the contest.

The BBC is host broadcaster, but fans also able to use YouTube and TikTok, as well as watch live on screens around the country, in places like Nottingham and London, as well as numerous pubs, bars and clubs that will hold watch parties.