Eurovision 2024: Ultimate guide to the song contest as Bambie Thug competes in first semi final

The Eurovision is finally upon us, with Bambie Thug set to face off against 14 countries this evening for a chance to make it to the grand finale on Saturday.

The self-described Ouji-pop star will perform their hyper-electro-metal tune Doomsday Blue in the first of two semi-finals on Tuesday, with bookies shilling the Cork icon as a strong contender to bring home a win for Ireland.

If Bambie gets through to the final, they will be the first Irish act to qualify since 2018 with Ryan O’Shaughnessy, and will also be able to battle it out to secure Ireland’s most Eurovision wins title, which we now share with Sweden.

READ MORE: Who is Bambie Thug? Singer wanted to be ballerina before horror injury led them to Eurovision fame

From how to vote and where to catch the semi-final, to what chances Bambie has of winning the contest - here is your complete Eurovision guide:

How do viewers at home vote in the semi-final?

Voting for the semi-final can be done via the official Eurovision app, which can be found in app stores for iOS, Android and Windows devices, with a special video message from your favourite contestant delivered after voting.

If you don’t want to download the app, people in participating countries can also vote by telephone or text, with the relevant numbers appearing on the screen and found here.

Undated handout photo issued by EBU of Irish entrant Bambie Thug rehearsing Doomsday Blue at the First Rehearsal of the First Semi-Final at Malmo Arena in Sweden.
(Image: Louise Bennett/PA Wire)

People are only allowed to vote in the semi-final that their country takes part in, but they are allowed to vote up to 20 times for their countries of choice in that semi-final.

While voting will open before the first song in the final, in the Semi-Finals, voting will open after the last song has been performed, staying open for around 15 to 25 minutes.

When do the semi-finals take place and when will Bambi Thug perform?

The first semi-final will take place on Tuesday, May 7, and the second two days later on Thursday, May 9 with the grand final set to take place on Saturday, May 11.

The semi-final lineups were determined randomly by drawing countries from six pots to see who would face whom in which semi-final and which half of that show they would compete in.

Bambie Thug performing Doomsday Blue wins The Late Late Eurosong Special to represent Ireland in Malmö, Sweden in May of this year at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest
(Image: Andres Poveda)

Competing against Ireland in the first semi-final are Austria, Malta, Switzerland, Greece, Czechia, Albania, Denmark, Armenia, Cyprus, Poland, Serbia, Lithuania and Croatia. Ireland will perform fourth in the first half of the show.

How can I watch the semi-finals and what time are they on?

The first semi-final will be broadcast from RTÉ One beginning at 8pm on Tuesday and on the RTÉ Player at the same time, full to the brim with Marty Whelan’s famous commentary. You can also catch it on the Eurovision website here.

What are the odds of Bambie taking us to the final?

The stakes are high this year as Ireland is tied with Sweden for most Eurovision wins ever, with both countries having taken home the coveted title eight times, meaning if Sweden win, Ireland can no longer claim the most victories.

The good news is that Ireland is ranking fairly high with bookmakers. According to Lottoland, Ireland is the third most popular country to win the first semi-final, under Croatia at one and Ukraine at number two.

When it comes to the grand finale, Ireland still ranks fairly high, as the fifth most popular country to win the contest, with Croatia still poised to win the contest overall, with their entry Rim Tim Tagi Dim by Baby Lasange.

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