Eurovision 2022 final LIVE: Latest updates from Turin with UK’s Sam Ryder & Ukraine favourites for glory

THE Eurovision final has kicked off with another round of hopeful musicians battling it out to represent their nations at the grand final.

A shortlist of 25 bands will perform in front of the live Eurovision audience in the northern Italian city of Turin, while millions more watch on television around the world.

The Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra is heavily tipped to win by bookmakers, which are giving the group that mixes traditional Ukrainian rhythms, costumes and dance moves with contemporary hip hop a 60% chance of winning.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Sam Ryder hopes to achieve a high score in this evening’s final with epic power ballad Space Man.

The winner is chosen in equal parts by panels of music experts in each competing nation and votes by the viewing public, leaving room for an upset.

Sam Ryder and Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs are each given a 10% shot while the Italian duo of Mahmood & Blanco have a 6% chance of winning.

The contest kicks off at 8pm on BBC One.

Read our Eurovision 2022 live blog below for the latest updates…