Understanding the Eurovision voting process and voting instructions for tonight's show.

The Eurovision Song Contest is making its grand return tonight after being put on hold last year due to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. This highly anticipated event will feature 26 countries showcasing their musical talents in the quest for glory.

Representing the UK is James Newman, who will captivate the audience with his captivating song titled "Embers." The performance will take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in front of a live audience of 3,500 fans who have all undergone rigorous Covid testing. As the excitement unfolds, Graham Norton will provide his expert commentary, while Amanda Holden will be in London to present the UK's vote.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, strict measures have been implemented to prioritize safety. Eurovision venues have prohibited the consumption of alcohol, and participants have been advised to keep their entourages to a minimum. These precautions ensure a secure environment for everyone involved.

Unfortunately, Iceland will not be able to perform live tonight due to a positive Covid test. However, viewers will still get a taste of their talent through footage from a recent rehearsal.

When it comes to predicting the front-runners, Italy and France are the favorites among bookmakers to win this year's competition. The UK, on the other hand, faces odds of 250/1.

For those eagerly watching the event, understanding the voting system is crucial. Professional juries from each country will select their top 10 performances and assign points accordingly. The favored act receives 12 points, the second favorite receives 10 points, and so on. Viewers at home can cast their votes via phone, text, or the Eurovision app. However, it is important to note that voting for one's own country is not allowed, and the voting process only opens once the final act has concluded.

Once the public voting period is over, countries will take turns announcing the results of their respective jury votes. Amanda Holden will take the stage to reveal the countries that have bestowed the UK with 12, 10, and 8 points, respectively. After the jury points have been announced, the results of the public vote will finally be unveiled.

Similar to the jury vote, the public vote assigns 12 points to the act with the most votes from each country. The act with the second highest votes receives 10 points, and so on. However, instead of revealing the results country by country, the total points awarded to each act will be tallied. Beginning with the country at the bottom of the leaderboard, the organizers will disclose the total points received by each act from the public as a whole.

To discover where the public votes in your country were allocated, you can visit the Eurovision website once the show reaches its conclusion. The country that emerges as the Eurovision winner will have the honor of hosting next year's competition and will automatically secure a place in the final.

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