UK

Eurovision grand final opens with appearances from Kate and Kalush Orchestra

Kalush Orchestra, the 2022 contest winners, perform for the opening of the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest (Peter Byrne/PA)
Kalush Orchestra, the 2022 contest winners, perform for the opening of the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest (Peter Byrne/PA)

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest has kicked off in Liverpool with a flag parade featuring the countries vying for its coveted glass microphone trophy.

The Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance playing the piano in a pre-recorded opening video featuring last year’s winner’s Kalush Orchestra.

They were also joined by 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder playing guitar on the top of the Liver Building with Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano.

In the auditorium, a troupe of drummers joined Kalush Orchestra on stage to open the grand final as pyrotechnics lit up the arena.

Twenty-six acts will perform at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to an expected global audience of 160 million viewers, according to the BBC.

The city is hosting on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, who won last year’s contest but are unable to host due to the Russian invasion.

Austria will open the show with Teya and Salena’s quirky dance-pop tune Who The Hell Is Edgar?, about being possessed by the ghost of 19th century Gothic author Edgar Allan Poe.

The UK’s Mae Muller will close the show with I Wrote A Song – a slot generally considered a disadvantage.

But they all face tough competition from previous winner Loreen representing Sweden and Kaarija representing Finland, both favourites to win.