Eurovision 2018: Where is it taking place, when is it on TV and who is representing Britain?

Everything you need to know about this year's Europop spectacular

This year's Eurovision Song Contest will be the 63rd in the history of this eccentric competition.

The camp spectacular will be beamed live from Lisbon, with Russia returning among the 43 countries enrolled after opting out of last year's event in Ukraine on political grounds.

The show that brought us Gina G, Lordi, Conchita Wurst and those saucy Polish milkmaids promises the usual alarming goulash of glitter, dance pop and Balkan gypsy folk brought to life with Brass Eye graphics and simmering trade-based tensions.

Poland's controversial 2014 entry Donatan & Cleo performing 'We Are Slavic' (Getty) (Getty Images)

Who knows whether we'll be treated to another dubstep Dracula or a further serving of Turkish nu-metal?

Here's all you need to know about Eurovision 2018.

Where is Eurovision taking place?

The contest is being staged in Portugal for the first time after Salvador Sobral won for "Amar Pelos Dios" in Ukraine last spring.

The semi-finals will be staged on 8 and 10 May at the 20,000-seater Altice Arena in Lisbon with the grand final following on Saturday 12 May, all three hosted by Portuguese TV personalities Filomena Cautela, Sílvia Alberto, Daniela Ruah and Catarina Furtado.

Cezar performing 'It's My Life' for Romania in 2013 (Rolf Klatt/Rex/Shutterstock)

Where can I watch it?

In the UK, the semis will be broadcast on BBC Four with on-the-spot reporting from Scott Mills and Rylan Clark-Neal.

The final will air on BBC One, as is customary, with Graham Norton returning on commentary duties, carrying on in the same deliciously wry manner as his immortal predecessor Sir Terry Wogan.

Sir Terry's droll voiceover work ensured the contest has remained a fixture of the British TV calendar since 1971.

Everyone has their own favourite Wogan one-liner but it's hard to beat his summary of one country's decision to award the Russian entry 12 points in 2008: "Ukraine just wanted to be absolutely sure there that the oil and electricity rolls through."

Mel Giedroyc will meanwhile be covering the results as Ken Bruce does the honours on BBC Radio 2.

Who is representing the UK?

This year British hopes lie with SuRie and her song "Storm". For those looking for positive omens, she is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London and has performed as a soloist at the Albert Hall.

SuRie also has previous form in the contest, having appeared as a backing dancer for 2015's Belgian entry, Loic Nottet, and served as musical director for the same country's 2017 competitor Blanche.