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Australia edges closer to Eurovision triumph
Pop sensation Delta Goodrem has significantly improved Australia's prospects of winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest following a commanding semi-final performance of her ballad Eclipse in Vienna on Thursday.
Goodrem surges in odds
The singer and former Neighbours star is now the second favourite to claim the trophy, rapidly narrowing the gap on long-time frontrunner Finland. If she prevails on Saturday, it would mark Australia's first Eurovision victory since joining the competition as a one-off entrant in 2015 before becoming a permanent fixture.
Eurovision enjoys massive popularity in Australia, with over a million viewers tuning in regularly despite the country's geographical distance from Europe.
Goodrem's Eurovision journey
Goodrem, one of Australia's best-selling female artists, signed her first recording contract at 15 and has since topped the charts with four number-one albums. Reflecting on her Eurovision experience, she told the BBC it had been "surprisingly beautiful" to witness fans rallying behind music.
"To see people flying the flags for music and being with us has been an awesome thing to see."
Delta Goodrem
Semi-final qualifiers and surprises
Goodrem was among 10 acts advancing to Saturday's grand final, joining competitors from Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia, Switzerland, and Latvia, who were eliminated. The UK's entrant, Look Mum No Computer (musician Sam Battle), secured an automatic berth as part of the "Big Four" financial contributors to the contest.
Battle's performance of Eins, Zwei, Drei-a surreal, tech-themed spectacle-drew mixed reactions online. While some praised his energy, others criticized the staging as chaotic.
Themes and controversies
The second semi-final showcased recurring motifs, including ropes symbolizing struggle. Azerbaijan's Jiva fought against restraints in Just Go, while Switzerland's Veronica Fusaro was entangled in red rope during Alice, a song addressing stalking and abuse. Despite strong performances, neither act advanced.
Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu sparked debate with Choke Me, a rock track accused of glorifying violence. She defended the song as a metaphor for societal pressures. Bulgaria's Dara delivered one of the night's most dynamic performances with Bangaranga, a high-energy anthem about confronting anxiety.
Final lineup and boycott
The 10 Thursday qualifiers will join nine countries advancing from Monday's semi-final, plus the "Big Four" (UK, Italy, Germany, France) and host Austria. However, five nations-Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland-are absent this year, boycotting the contest over Israel's participation.
The grand final airs Saturday at 8 PM BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, Radio 2, and BBC Sounds, with live coverage on the BBC News website.
