Who are Eurovision Song Contest 2023 presenters Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina and Alesha Dixon

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 gets underway in Liverpool on Tuesday night.

Millions of people from across Europe will be tuning in tonight to watch the first semi-final featuring 15 countries. Fifteen acts will perform at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, with 10 progressing to the final.

A second semi-final will take place on Thursday with the 20 qualifying acts from both nights joining the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and last year’s winners Ukraine in th grand final on Saturday night.

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All three events will be broadcast on BBC One with coverage of semi-final 1 getting underway at 8pm - with hosts Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina and Alesha Dixon on presenting duties.

London-born Hannah Waddingham, 48, is a musical theatre icon whose stage career spans over 20 years. Hannah, who has won one Olivier awards and been nominated a further three times, has performed on both London’s West End and on Broadway in shows including Spamalot, Kiss Me, Kate, and The Wizard of Oz.

She has also appeared on TV in shows including Game of Thrones and Netflix’s Sex Education as well as Apple TV's Ted Lasso which saw her win a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe nomination.

Speaking ahead of Eurovision Hannah, who has one daughter, said: "There’s something really special about Eurovision, which is why I’ve been an avid fan for years, from the camaraderie of all the acts backstage, to the epic scale of the show."

She added: "It’s one of the world’s greatest music festivals, but this year, perhaps more than ever, it is such a great honour to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, a country which has carried itself with such strength and unity. It is my