Eurovision Song Contest 2015: ultimate guide

It begins this week.

Over 180 million viewers and 40 nations will come together for the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.

Broadcasts get underway early on Wednesday morning AEST. SBS ONE is airing the two Semi-Finals and Final live around the country. These are your only opportunity to vote (not during primetime replays).

City: Vienna, Austria
Venue: Wiener Stadthalle
Hosts: Mirjam Weichselbraun, Alice Tumler and Arabella Kiesbauer (pictured below)
Green Room host: Conchita Wurst
Theme: Building Bridges

Australian entrant: Guy Sebastian 
Australia has been invited as a guest act for the 60th contest in recognition of our long-standing enthusiasm for the event. Guy Sebastian will represent Australia performing “Tonight, Again.” Should Australia win, SBS will co-host the event with a European broadcaster next year in a European city. (Mary-Jean O’Doherty Vasmatzian from Australia also sings as part of the Armenian entry).

Australian Televoting: 50% Public vote / 50% Jury vote.
Australians can vote only during the Live Eurovision broadcasts on Wednesday May 20, Friday May 22, and Sunday May 24 at 5am AEST on SBS ONE. Text or call the numbers that appear on screen during the Live broadcast. There is a limit of 20 votes per phone number. You cannot vote for Australia.

Australian jury: Amanda Pelman (chair), Richard Wilkins, Danielle Spencer, Jake Stone and Ash London.
Australian spokesperson: TBA (Announcement: The Feed 7:30pm May 18 SBS 2)

SBS presenters: Julia Zemiro, Sam Pang

TV Tonight is adding individual clips under the site’s Video section.

Semi Final One
5am AEST Wednesday May 20 SBS ONE (replay 7:30pm Friday May 22)
Updated: Qualifying acts in bold.

Moldova – Eduard Romanyuta with I Want Your Love
Armenia – Genealogy with Face the Shadow
Belgium – Loic Nottet with Rhythm Inside
The Netherlands – Trijntje Oosterhuis with Walk Along
Finland – Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat with I Always Have To
Greece – Maria-Elena Kyriakou with One Last Breath
Estonia – Elina Born & Stig Rasta with Goodbye to Yesterday
Macedonia – Daniel Kajmakoski with Autumn Leaves
Serbia – Bojana Stamenov with Beauty Never Lies
Hungary – Boggie with Wars For Nothing
Belarus – Uzari & Maimuna with Time
Russia – Polina Gagarina with A Million Voices
Denmark – Anti Social Media with The Way You
Albania – Elhaida Dani with I’m Alive
Romania – Voltaj with All Over Again
Georgia – Nina Sublatti with Warrior

Eurovision’s Greatest Hits
8:30pm Thursday May 23 SBS ONE
Hosts: Graham Norton, Petra Mede
Venue: Apollo Hammersmith
Performers: Conchita Wurst, Herreys, Natasha St-Pier, Emmelie De Forest, Lordi, Nicole, Johnny Logan, Rosa López, Anne-Marie David, The Olsen Brothers, Loreen, Brotherhood Of Man, Dima Bilan, Dana International, Bobbysocks!

Semi Final Two
5am AEST Friday May 22 SBS ONE (replay 7:30pm Saturday May 23)
Updated: Qualifying acts in bold.

Lithuania – Monika Linkyte & Vaidas Baumila with This Time
Ireland – Molly Sterling with Playing With Numbers
San Marino – Michele Perniola & Anita Simoncini with Chain of Lights
Montenegro – Knez with Adio
Malta – Amber with Warrior
Norway – Morland and Debrah Scarlett with A Monster Like Me
Portugal – Leonor Andrade with There’s a Sea That Separates Us
Czech Republic – Marta Jandova & Vaclav Noid Barta with Hope Never Dies
Israel – Nadav Guedj with Golden Boy
Latvia – Aminata with Love Injected
Azerbaijan – Elnur Huseynov with Hour of the Wolf
Iceland – Maria Olafs with Unbroken
Sweden – Mans Zelmerlow with Heroes
Switzerland – Melanie Rene with Time to Shine
Cyprus – John Karayiannis with One Thing I Should Have Done
Slovenia – Maraaya with Here For You
Poland – Monika Kuszynska with In the Name of Love

Final
5am AEST Sunday May 24 SBS ONE (replay 7:30pm)

Australia – Guy Sebastian with Tonight Again
Austria – The Makemakes with I Am Yours
France – Lisa Angell with N’oubliez Pas
Germany – Ann Sophie with Black Smoke
Italy – Il Volo with Grande Amore
Spain – Edurne with Amanecer
United Kingdom – Electro Velvet with Still In Love With You

The running order for the Grand Final puts Australia at #12.

Slovenia
France
Israel
Estonia
United Kingdom
Armenia
Lithuania
Serbia
Norway
Sweden
Cyprus
Australia
Belgium
Austria
Greece
Montenegro
Germany
Poland
Latvia
Romania
Spain
Hungary
Georgia
Azerbaijan
Russia
Albania
Italy

The Feed Eurovision After Party
6:30pm Monday May 25 SBS 2
Marc Fennell, Jeannette Francis, Yumi Stynes.

Bookies’ favourites (Updated: Saturday):
Sweden
Russia
Italy
Belgium
Australia
Estonia
Serbia
Azerbaijan
Spain
Latvia

Drinking game suggestions:
Wind Machine
Costume changes
Shirtless male dancers
Big hair
Sped up or slowed down film
Aerial shots
Key change
Pyrotechnics
Props
Someone sings flat
UK gets no points
Gimmick
Rapping
Folk instruments
‘Ethnic’ dancing
Australia wins

NB: This year TV Tonight is publishing Live results AEST (please adjust visits for primetime broadcasts).