Eurovision 2023: Why Australia is taking part in the contest

The Eurovision final is edging ever close. The 67th song contest comes to Liverpool on Saturday, May 13, with the UK hosting on behalf of last year's winners Ukraine.

Singer Mae Muller is flying the flag for the UK, performing her catchy track 'I Wrote A Song.' The 25-year-old, from North London, has had success both in the UK and US, while her song Better Days went viral on TikTok. The pressure is on this year, after Sam Ryder came second in Italy last year. Can Mae bring it home for the UK?

Eurovision legend Graham Norton, Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina will be hosting this year's contest.

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Among the 2023 competitors, this year is non-European nation Australia. Progressive metal band Voyager will be performing for Oz with their song Promise.

The Perth-based five-piece have been performing together since 1999 and have toured the world several times. They've released seven studio albums, including their latest, Colours In The Sun, in 2019.

The group are massive Eurovision fans and have launched several attempts to compete since Australia joined the Contest in 2015, coming closest last year when they took the runner-up spot at Australia Decides.

Australia has been broadcasting Eurovision for almost 40 years, via the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). In 2014, viewing figures in the country peaked at 2.7 million.

Australia was initially invited to take to the Eurovision stage as the interval act in the second semi-final of the 2014 contest. The following year, the nation was invited to compete for the first time to commemorate Eurovision’s 60th anniversary. They sent Guy