San Marino

The annual Barbara Dex award, which goes to the worst dressed performer in the Eurovision Song Contest, has been won by Albanias Rona Nishliu. The Irish twins Jedward came second while the overall winner Sweden's Loreen was 8th worst dressed.

It's the third and final rehearsal for all 18 countries this evening before the first semi final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The tension is mounting here in Baku as eighteen participants battle it out for only ten spots in Saturday's final. Who will make it and who will be dissappointed? We'll know in under nine hours!

All 18 countries from the first semi final took to the stage for the second full dress rehearsal in the Crystal Hall arena in Baku.  The show began at 12:00 midnight local time in Azerbaijan.  So, what 10 countries will make it to the grand final on Saturday night?

After each of the 18 participants in the first semi-final have been rehearsing individually a bit over an hour on the stage in Baku it was time for the first of three dress rehearsals before the big show tomorrow night. Who stands with the best chances to qualify as things are right now?

Thursday was a very busy day in Baku, with fourteen countries from the first semi-final completing their solo rehearsal schedule and conducting their second press conferences.

Valentina Monetta gave a lively performance today at the second rehearsal for San Marino.  She is sending the message to say she means business about making it to the final.

After a successful first day of rehearsals and press conferences, day 2 saw the last nine songs competing in the first semi-final have the opportunity to perform on the stage and meet the media for the first time.

The adorable Sammarinese singer has routinely been treated as a bit of a joke contestant but in today's rehearsal she has demonstrated her vocal ability. As this is The Social Network Song, of course there had to be a laptop on stage.

Local and foreign dance groups, singers and DJs will perform during the opening ceremony and interval acts during both semi-finals and the final. Today it was announced that the previous five winners of the contest will perform at the interval act show in the second semi-final.