So the big day has finally dawned.

All of those empty seats in the stadium will be full of fans, who will no doubt not be able to contain their excitement. I hope to be meeting some later on, so watch this space.

And what's it been like covering this huge event from inside the Eurovision bubble?

I've seen what monumentally hard work it is for the performers, hosts and everyone involved with the show.

The rehearsals, which are screened in the press room, are an exact replica of what the audience will see on the night.

It's a slick operation - the Swedes evidently love Eurovision - so the pressure on everyone is immense, even if they're not showing it.

With up to 200 million people watching this, including viewers from the US and China, no one wants to put a foot wrong.

It's also interesting to see how seriously all the countries involved now seem to to take the competition.

The "novelty" acts of years gone by are absent. Many of the entrants have cut their teeth on shows like The Voice or X Factor. So for some of them, Eurovision is a stepping stone for their pop careers.

And for the journalists? It's fun, but incredibly hard work. There's a lot going on, a lot to get your head around (I've been brushing up on the biogs for all 26 finalists) but also a lot of camaraderie.

Laptop being temperamental? Several offers of help are immediately offered. (Thank you Metro's Benny Royston).

Everyone here patently loves covering such a massive, unique event and so the atmosphere is great fun.