Hannah Waddingham dazzled in a busty gown as she joined Alesha Dixon on stage in Liverpool on Saturday night for the highly-anticipated Eurovision 2023 final.
The competition was opened in style by a pre-recorded piano performance from the Princess of Wales with a touching tribute to Ukraine.
As the 26 acts gathered at the city’s M&S Bank Arena, the actress, 48 and the singer, 44, pulled out all the stops to present the show alongside Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, 32, and Graham Norton, 60.
Hannah looked sensational in the glitzy purple number that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and nipped in at the waist.
She topped off her looked by styling her blonde hair into Old Hollywood curls and wore a radiant makeup palette.
Hosts: Hannah Waddingham dazzled in a busty gown as she joined Alesha Dixon on stage in Liverpool on Saturday night for the highly-anticipated Eurovision 2023 final
Glam: Hannah looked sensational in the glitzy purple number that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and nipped in at the waist
Alesha showed off her toned figure in a cut-out blue gown with a thigh-high leg split and asymmetric bodice.
She boosted her height with a pair of silver heels and pulled her long dark hair back into a sleek plait.
Meanwhile, Julia caught the eye in a canary yellow gown with incredible structured layers of fabric circling her shoulders.
She accessorised with gold gems worn down her arms and styled her hair into an elegant low bun.
Hannah later changed into a lilac gown with dramatic ruffled tulle sleeves that tumbled to the ground.
Also switching up their looks, Julia slipped into a royal blue ruffled gown while Alesha opted for a quirky gold mini dress with a metal embellishment.
Thousands from far and wide gathered in Liverpool with Eurovision fanatics from around the world pouring into the city’s fan village, ahead of the grand final tonight.
Sitting for hours in the beating sun, with flash mob choirs and DJs popping up all around the city as the countdown to the main event comes to an end.
The UK is hosting the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, who won the contest last year, and fans have been showing their support for both countries.
Many were draped in Union Jack flags to support the UK’s contestant Mae Muller, while others were seen donning the famous bucket hat worn by Eurovision champions Kalush Orchestra and Ukrainian flags.
Ecstatic fans were seen sprinting straight to the stage front to secure a prime spot to watch the final, which gets underway at 8pm, with 160 million more expected to be watching it from home.
The grand final will see Muller finally take to the stage. After months of preparation, the 25-year-old singer from north London will finally perform her track, I Wrote A Song, for the international voting public.
On stage: As the 26 acts gathered at the city’s M&S Bank Arena, the actress, 48 and the singer, 44, presented the show alongside Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, 32, and Graham Norton, 60
Stunning: Alesha showed off her toned figure in a cut-out blue gown with a thigh-high leg split and asymmetric bodice
Pretty: Julia caught the eye in a canary yellow gown with incredible structured layers of fabric circling her shoulders
Radiant: Actress Hannah topped off her looked by styling her blonde hair into Old Hollywood curls and wore a radiant makeup palette
Switching it up: Hannah later changed into a lilac gown with dramatic tulle sleeves that tumbled to the ground
Incredible: Also switching up their looks, Julia slipped into a royal blue ruffled gown while Alesha opted for a quirky gold mini dress with a metal embellishment
Celebrating: The UK is hosting the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, who won the contest last year
Heartfelt: Graham was reduce to tears after a performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone during the interval
Muller is hoping to continue the success of last year’s UK entry Sam Ryder, who finished second behind Kalush Orchestra.
But the UK’s entrant will need to beat the odds if she hopes to take the win.
She is currently 10th favourite to win with odds of 40/1. Sweden are favourites, followed by Finland and Ukraine.
Muller said she had also been moved seeing ‘just as many Ukrainian flags in the streets as British ones’.
‘This is what Eurovision is about, it’s about people supporting each other,’ she added.
Twenty-six acts will be performing, as well as appearances from the UK’s previous Eurovision winner, Katrina Leskanich of Katrina And The Waves.
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