Graham Norton urged viewers to toast the “late, great” Sir Terry Wogan, during Saturday night’s finale.
Sir Terry, who was the BBC’s Eurovision commentator for almost 35 years, died last January.
When Graham took over the reins in 2009 Sir Terry had advised him, “don’t have a drink before song nine”.
Following this year’s ninth performance – Hungary’s Joci Papai – Graham said: “Last year we started a mini-tradition, so if you do have a drink in front of you, be it a wine, a beer, vodka, cocoa or tea, or just a glass of water, why not raise it with me now and toast the late great Sir Terry Wogan.
“The man who is, and always will be, the voice of Eurovision.”
Among the more intriguing performances in the opening half of acts included a break-dancing Gorilla and a horse atop a ladder.
Italy’s Francesco Gabbani took to the stage with a backing dancer in a gorilla suit who was, according to Graham, the country’s top choreographer.
His song, Occidentali’s Karma, is the bookies’ favourites to take the title which would mark Italy’s first victory since 1990.
