The first heat of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place on Tuesday night in Liverpool with the Dutch entry Burning Daylight among the line-up.

The Dutch team has been hard at work reshaping the song following two disastrous public outings last month by singers Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper. 

The criticism of the duo’s performance came from former participants, on social media and Nicolai told broadcaster NOS she had even been shouted at in the street about how bad it was. The duo now sing in a lower key and backing singers have been added. 

Ten of the 15 songs in Tuesday’s semi-final will go through to the final on Saturday. The Dutch duo will be second last on stage but, according to the bookies at least, are unlikely to win enough votes with their more introverted number.  

The big favourite for tonight and to win the final is Swedish song festival legend Loreen, who won in 2012 with Euphoria. This year’s entry Tattoo is already in the European hit lists.

The Netherlands has won Eurovision five times, the last time with Arcade by Duncan Laurence in 2019.