Vincent, Peter (2014-05-08). "Jessica Mauboy performs at Eurovision Song Contest". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 2021-10-28.

A major exception to the rules in the big leagues: viewers can vote for their own country's candidate. This has not weighed down the smaller countries as Georgia holds the record with three victories since the first edition in 2003.Australia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 by invitation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as a "one-off" special guest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision. On 17 November 2015, the EBU announced that SBS had been invited to participate in the 2016 contest and that Australia would once again take part. In 2015, Australia was guaranteed a spot in the final of the contest and was allowed to vote during both semi-finals and the final; however, from the 2016 contest and onwards, Australia would have to qualify to the final from one of two semi-finals and could only vote in the semi-final in which the nation was allocated to compete. SBS announced in November 2022 that the Australian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 would be selected internally, foregoing the use of the national final Eurovision – Australia Decides which had been held since 2019, with SBS stating: "Over the past few months, we have been exploring ways we could deliver the event to Australian audiences next year. However, a variety of factors contributed to us coming to this decision." [6] Australia's creative director, Paul Clarke, mentioned during an interview: " Eurovision – Australia Decides comes together as a result of different layers of funding. Some of those changed and we just fell a bit short. Unfortunately, we ran out of runway." [7] The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final will be broadcast live on Saturday 13 May 2023 at 8pm (BST) on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Ukrainian singer Alyosha – who represented Ukraine at the 2010 Eurovision Eurovision Song Contest – will perform alongside Liverpool’s very own critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter, Rebecca Ferguson. Like many Ukrainian women in 2022, Alyosha was forced to leave her country and loved ones behind to seek refuge; Alyosha will share her personal journey through a new, haunting arrangement of British musical heavyweight Duran Duran’s Ordinary World. Second Semi-Final - Thursday 11 May

For the first interval performance, during which voting across Europe and the world takes place, the UK’s very own spaceman Sam Ryder will make his triumphant return to the Eurovision stage after leading the UK’s biggest success in last year’s Contest for over two decades. With his achievements since his stratospheric Eurovision 2022 performance of Space Man including a UK number 1 debut album, a nomination for ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ at the BRITs, and a spot on the line-up for the Platinum Party at the Palace for last year’s Platinum Jubilee, Grand Final viewers can expect an incredible sight guaranteed to surprise. In the large hall, which was still empty, everyone was given two half-hour slots to set up their song before the dress rehearsal on Saturday afternoon, the images of which will be sent to the juries of each country. As with the big boys, the famous " 12 points" of each jury will be announced during the show on Sunday afternoon. The public vote, which will count for half of the final ranking, is already open on the internet.

Who are the Eurovision Grand Final presenters and UK Eurovision commentators?

Groot, Evert (2023-01-31). "Eurovision 2023: Allocation Draw results". European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . Retrieved 2022-01-31. At the end of the show, Australia was announced as a qualifier for the final, winning the semi-final with 149 points in total. During the Eurovision Flag Parade of all 26 Grand Finalists, everyone will be treated to a unique performance by some iconic past Ukrainian Eurovision contestants. Get ready for a new twist on their Eurovision entries weaved with British classics when GO_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serducha take to the stage and remind everyone why they became much deserved Eurovision icons. Competitors from previous years also made the trip, which gave the week, despite the intense rhythm of rehearsals and requests, the air of an international summer camp that pleased Fia, who came to represent Germany. The First Semi-Final will open with host Julia Sanina performing part of Маяк by her band The Hardkiss, while the interval offers global superstar Rita Ora delivering a show-stopping medley of some of her biggest hits (and brand-new single Praising You).