The Eurovision Song Contest 2015 final takes place tonight but what are the chances of the UK claiming victory?
UK hopes lie in the vocal skills of recently formed musical duo Electro Velvet.
The talented double act consists of of 35-year-old Alex Larke from Welwyn Garden City and 26-year Bianca Nicholas from Kent.
Larke is the lead singer of tribute act The Rollin’ Clones while Nicholas has duetted with Will Young and performed for the Duke and Cuchess of Cambridge, while before turning to music at the age of 15 she starred in the 1999 Johnny Depp adventure Sleepy Hollow.
Electro Velvet
The duo’s Eurovision entry Still in Love With You was chosen from hundreds of entries received by the BBC after an open-selection process and has since split opinion, with Nicholas admitting in an interview with Digital Spy: “It was an extreme Marmite song; people just love it or hate it.”
Still in Love With You was written by songwriter David Mindel and music producer Adrian Bax White
Hopefully the song can enjoy more success than recent UK Eurovision entrants. Over the last 16 years the UK has finished in the top 10 just twice, while last year, Molly Smitten-Downes finished 17th, two places higher than Bonnie Tyler in 2013, while in 2012 veteran Engelbert Humperdick finished second last while representing the UK.
Where is Eurovision 2015 being hosted?
The Wiener Stadthalle will host Eurovision 2015
This year’s event is taking place at the stunning Wiener Stadhalle in Vienna, Austria.
Austria won the right to host Eurovision after Conchita Wurst brought home the trophy with her Rise Like A Phoenix from Copenhagen last year.
2015 will be the second time Vienna has hosted the contest.
Who is competing at Eurovision 2015?
A total of 27 countries, from an original 40, will qualify for the Eurovision 2015 final.
Austria automatically qualify as the reigning champions and this year’s hosts.
UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy all also automatically qualify for the final as the five biggest financial contributors to Eurovision.
Australia will compete as a guest nation to celebrate the contest’s 60th anniversary.
Serbia, Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Estonia, Hungary, Russia, Albania, Romania, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Montenegro, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Israel all progressed from the semi-finals to tonight’s final.
Why are Australia entering?
Australia are taking part in this year’s Eurovision as a one-off celebration to mark the contest’s 60th anniversary.
They will be represented by Australian Idol winner, Guy Sebastian.
What time does it start tonight?
The show will start at 7pm and run until 10.35pm by which time we will know who has the greatest singing voice in Europe… well, or Australia…
Who will win Eurovision 2015?
Italy, Russia and Sweden are expected to fight it out for the Eurovision crown, while visitors Australia will also pose a challenge.
Sweden (shown in the video above) have been installed as 2/1 favourites with the bookies, while the UK effort is ranked an 80/1 outsider by most bookmakers.