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Eurovision 2022: When is the final and how can I watch?

Eurovision 2022 - L-R: Rylan, AJ Odudu, Sam Ryder, Graham Norton, Scott Mills. (BBC)
Eurovision 2022 - L-R: Rylan, AJ Odudu, Sam Ryder, Graham Norton, Scott Mills. (BBC)

The 66th edition of the Eurovision song contest is here.

The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will take place on Saturday where the 20 successful countries will compete to be crowned the winner.

Ukraine are the odds-on favourite to win the Eurovision Song Contest this year but the nation faces tough competition from Sweden, Italy and, most surprisingly, the UK.

When will Eurovision 2022 take place and how can I watch?

Sam Ryder will be representing the UK for Eurovision 2022 in Turin
Sam Ryder will be representing the UK for Eurovision 2022 in Turin

The contest is split into two semi-finals with successful candidates progressing to the Grand Final which is being held on 14 May.

The Grand Final will air on BBC One from 8pm until midnight.

Read more: How many times has the UK won Eurovision?

The UK is among the Big Five countries — also including Spain, Germany, France and Italy — who do not have to qualify from the semi-final stage and gain automatic access to the final.

Where is Eurovision 2022 taking place?

(Left to Right) Thomas Raggi, Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis and Ethan Torchio of Italian rock band Maneskin were the winners of Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
(Left to Right) Thomas Raggi, Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis and Ethan Torchio of Italian rock band Maneskin were the winners of Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

This year’s host country is Italy with the competition taking place in the Pala Olympico in Turin, which previously hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.

It is the third Italian city to host the event after Naples in 1965 and Rome in 1991.

Italy were the last winners in 2021 with the runner-up of Italian X Factor rock band Måneskin, who performed the song, 'Zitti e buoni'.

Who are the hosts?

Programme Name: The Graham Norton Show 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: The Graham Norton Show 2021 - Generics (No. n/a) - Picture Shows:  Graham Norton - (C) So Television - Photographer: Christopher Baines
Graham Norton (So Television/Christopher Baines)

The competition this year will have three hosts: Italian singer Laura Pausini, Italian TV and radio presenter Alessandro Cattelan and Lebanese-born singer-songwriter Mika.

Graham Norton will commentate the Grand Final on BBC One, while Ken Bruce will continue his long-running coverage over on BBC Radio 2.

Who will be the UK entry?

Sam Ryder has been named as the UK representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. (BBC/Parlophone Music/Edward Cooke)
Sam Ryder has been named as the UK representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. (BBC/Parlophone Music/Edward Cooke)

The UK entry will be Sam Ryder with his song 'Space Man'.

Although active since 2009, working as a session player for groups such as The Morning After, Blessed by a Broken Heart and Close Your Eyes, Ryder rose to fame during the first lockdown in 2020 with his musical covers on TikTok.

Read more: Who is Sam Ryder?

Ryder is one of the UK’s most followed musician on the platform with over 12 million fans.

The 32 year-old will attempt to make history by being only the sixth winner from the UK.

The UK was bottom of the leaderboard in both of the past two contests, coming last in 2019 with Michael Rice’s Bigger Than Us, and James Newman’s Embers scoring “nul points” in 2021.

Lebanese-born British singer-songwriter, Mika (L) greets United Kingdom's singer Sam Ryder onstage during the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song contest 2022 on May 12, 2022 at the Pala Alpitour venue in Turin. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Mika greets United Kingdom's singer Sam Ryder onstage during the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song contest 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

Ryder was selected in a new collaboration between the BBC and global music management company TaP Music, which also revamped the promotional campaign.

The new strategy included ensuring Ryder’s single, Space Man, got played on BBC Radio 1 instead of Radio 2, and targeting smaller countries such as San Marino, Serbia, Croatia and Malta, which have the same voting powers as larger countries such as Germany.

According to Ladbrokes, Ryder’s odds have remained at 6/1 throughout the week, putting him second in the betting.

The UK’s last win came 25 years ago with Katrina and the Waves, who performed Love Shine a Light in 1997.

Watch: Sam Ryder talks Eurovision