Live Blog: Wednesday 12 May

It may be a while before we have the video of today's rehearsal from Ukraine, so we're going to close the liveblog for now and add it in later.

It's been a super-busy day in Rotterdam Ahoy, with 15 second rehearsals done and a further 10 scheduled for tomorrow. In addition, we'll see first rehearsals from the Big 5 and our hosts, The Netherlands, which is VERY exciting. Here's tomorrow's schedule:

Second Rehearsal: Second Semi-Finalists

🇲🇹 Malta*
🇸🇲 San Marino
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇬🇷 Greece
🇦🇹 Austria
🇵🇱 Poland
🇲🇩 Moldova
🇮🇸 Iceland
🇷🇸 Serbia
(*Malta are performing in the first Semi-Final)

First Rehearsal: The Big 5 and The Netherlands (Hosts)

🇮🇹 Italy
🇩🇪 Germany
🇳🇱 The Netherlands
🇫🇷 France
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇪🇸 Spain

#JoinUs then!

...your dressing room is ready.

The Big 5 and the host nation arrive in the arena tomorrow, and all their dressing rooms are ready and waiting. Are they as excited as we are? Unlikely.

Video coming soon, but you can take a look at the photos now. Get well soon Kateryna!

Watch: Azerbaijan Second Rehearsal

Watch: Romania Second Rehearsal

Video coming soon, but you can browse the gallery now.

Watch: Israel Second Rehearsal

Video coming soon, but pictures available now!

Ukraine’s Go_A are the final act rehearsing on the main stage this afternoon, and we've just heard that lead singer Kateryna isn’t taking part. Apparently she was feeling a little unwell this morning, and COVID-19 rules mean that she now has to wait for the results of a PCR test before she can return to the arena. The other members of the band have all tested negative and are rehearsing with a stand-in singer today. We have our fingers crossed for Kateryna and hope she’ll be back with us soon!

It's very busy in the Delegation Bubble this afternoon, and we're keeping our eyes peeled for participants who have a few minutes to hang out and eat snacks with the Eurovision.tv Live Blog crew.

Every now and then we spot a flash of yellow and think it's The Roop, but it turns out to be a member of the Health & Safety crew in a hi-vis jacket. So far our hopes have been raised at least 15 times, but it seems we never learn.

Some amazing photos of Eden here...video coming soon!

Watch: Belgium Second Rehearsal

We've been watching second rehearsals on the big screen in the Delegation Bubble all day, and so far everything has remained much the same as the first rehearsals. But we can report that Eden from Israel has added an elaborate hair crown that's ALL kinds of fabulous. QUEEN 👑

The Official Eurovision App is now available to download:

App Store (iOS) / Google Play (Android)

Users can read the latest stories, follow their favourite acts, enjoy the Eurovision filters, and discover how to vote for their winning song!

Video coming soon, photos up now!

Watch: Croatia Second Rehearsal

...if Vasil from North Macedonia and a WWF panda play table tennis and there's no Live Blogger available to take a photograph, did it ever really happen?

Watch: Norway Second Rehearsal

The photos are coming thick and fast - here's Croatia!

Video coming in a matter of seconds, gallery available now!

Just had a little chat with Duncan Laurence in the Press Centre who's busy preparing for two Eurovision appearances next week as well as LAUNCHING A TOUR!

The tour kicks off in Breda on Thursday 21 October. More details can be found on his website.

Watch: Cyprus Second Rehearsal

There's a panda loose in the delegation bubble! It's to celebrate Eurovision's partnership with the WWF as part of the #VoiceForThePlanet campaign. We'd have asked for a bear hug, but this year's Eurovision is a hug-free zone.

Watch: Ireland Second Rehearsal

We've seen 10 countries rehearse for the second time today (9 if you exclude Australia, which we never do) - 5 remain on today's schedule. Tomorrow's plan is even busier - we'll tell you more about that later.

Watch: North Macedonia Second Rehearsal

Please enjoy these photos of Elena's second rehearsal - video will be available soon!

Thanks Stefania for signing our official programme, we love you too.

At risk of this Live Blog becoming a footwear appreciation zone...MORE FABULOUS BOOTS!

We've just heard that Vasil will be releasing a dance version of Here I Stand on Instagram shortly. This is very much in line with our interests

*puts on disco ball shirt*

Here's some pics of Lesley's Roy's second rehearsal - video coming soon!

Watch: Australia Exclusive Preview

Can we just take a moment to celebrate the amazing Eurovision photographers? This shot of Vasil is SPECTACULAR.

Would you like some pictures of Vasil's disco ball shirt? Of course you would.

...but only if you can handle fabulous heels. Thanks Tusse for taking time out from rehearsal day to sign our official programme, you can relax now until Tuesday!

Watch: Sweden Second Rehearsal

Look who we bumped into in the Delegation Bubble!

Destiny's got a busy day of interviews ahead but she took time out to sign the Official Programme.

A true Queen! 👸🏾

Dedication to the cause from Luke of the Maltese delegation. A lovely Eurovision logo alongside the Melodifestivalen crown 👑

Watch: Russia Second Rehearsal

Watch: Slovenia Second Rehearsal

Even though Montaigne can't be with us in the studio, here's some exclusive pictures of her live on tape recording. We miss you Montaigne, and everyone here is thinking of you and sending love.

One of the most fun things about being in the Delegation Bubble is being able to hear the artists warming up before their rehearsal. Right now we can hear the fabulous vocals of both Elena Tsagrinou from Cyprus and Lesley Roy from Ireland, which is a mash-up we would absolutely buy.

Watch: Lithuania second rehearsal

We'll post a video of Tusse later, but here's a gallery of his second rehearsal.

We're meeting ALL the best Swedish people this morning - always a pleasure to have a catch up with the lovely Edward Af Sillén. He won't be commentating for Sweden until next week, but he's already here in Rotterdam getting ready...

Manizha from Russia had another great rehearsal this morning - we've been chatting to her sister in the Delegation bubble, and discovered that while she's doesn't feature on Manizha's wall of Russian women, their mum does!

Take a look at the gallery of photos from this morning's rehearsal - we'll post a video later.

Tusse from Sweden is on stage for his second rehearsal right now, but here's a picture of him hanging outside Rotterdam Ahoy earlier. It's so great to have you here Tusse!

We'll post a video later, but here's a gallery of photos from today's second rehearsal.

Here's some pictures from The Roop's second rehearsal today - we'll post a video later.

We're very excited to see that housekeeping have paid a visit to Rotterdam Ahoy's resident fish Eurovissie and Eurofishion, and they've got a NEW PLANT to celebrate the beginning of second rehearsals.

Who is Eurovissie rooting for today? He's still a big fan of Lithuania's Fishcoteque, but he also really enjoyed Slovenia's Piranha Soklič.

...he's part of the furniture! 👑

So far we've seen second rehearsals from The Roop from Lithuania and Ana Soklič from Slovenia - both really great performances, and no changes from their first rehearsal.

We'll upload a 30-second video for both later, which will be taken from the official camera feed rather than our own cameras in the arena. So it will look much more like what you'll see in the first Semi-Final on Tuesday.

A: A LOT.

We love this picture of Benny getting ready to travel to Rotterdam. So much weather here, and you can never have too many layers.

Manizha's in the delegation bubble and we're very jealous of her hot pink tracksuit!

Spotted Lithuania's The Roop taking their distinctive brand of sunshine to the main stage - they're up first for second rehearsals today.

Good morning from a beautifully sunny Rotterdam, and welcome to Day 5 of the Eurovision.tv Live Blog. We're moving into a new phase of rehearsals today, as artists taking part in the first Semi-Final are welcomed back to the main stage. The only exception is Malta, who was always scheduled for second rehearsals first thing tomorrow.

We won't be based in the arena so much today, instead roving around to bring you all the backstage goings-on and news from Rotterdam Ahoy. But we'll definitely be keeping an eye on the big screen to see if there are any changes to performances or costumes during second rehearsals, and later we'll be able to post another 30-second video.

Please stay tuned, and if you're enjoying the Live Blog don't forget to share on Twitter!

Day 5: rehearsal schedule:

🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇷🇺 Russia
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇦🇺 Australia
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇳🇴 Norway
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇮🇱 Israel
🇷🇴 Romania
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
🇺🇦 Ukraine