Following on from yesterday's introduction to the Secret Society of the Eurovision Prediction Email, their leader, the Mysterious Stranger, has passed us his thoughts on the first semi-final.

There is a secret society that reads Eurovision Predictions... every year their leader emails round his Song Contest predictions, based on countless listens, experience and personal ability to spot a winner. And every year the mysterious stranger gets it hopelessly, horribly, wrong.

With 25 countires set to sing in the Saturday night final this year, that means they all have the best chance of winning? As keen Song Contest watchers know, not every place in the running order is equal. Eurovision historian John Kennedy O'Connor investigates.

For many, this will be the first and possibly once in a lifetime trip to see the German city, so why not try a little local culture beyond Eurovision? ESC Insight points out just a few of the things you can do in the host city next month...

Why do the Eurovision performers put themselves through the preview shows, just to sing to a handful of fans? Paul Jordan, in between cheering them all on at the UK Eurovision Preview Party, thinks he might know.