First of Eurovision semi-finals takes place in Copenhagen tonight

Ice skaters, circus acts

and a surprise cameo appearance from some of the most popular Irish Eurovision competitors in recent years are in store as the 2014 Eurovision Contest kicks off tonight.

A total of 16 countries will compete for 10 places in Saturday night's final. Ireland's act, Can-Linn featuring Kasey Smith, competes in Thursday's semi-final.

Bookies' favourite
The act that tops the bookies' polls to be the winner kicks off activities. Aram MP3 will represent Armenia singing Not Alone, a pop ballad featuring the evening's most spectacular pyrotechnics

At the other end of the running order, Montenegro's Sergej Cetkovic sings the power ballad Moj Svijet (My Love) as an ice skater twirls around him – a winning staging formula for Russia in 2008.

This year’s contest is being performed against the backdrop of the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict, however, and the luck of the draw means both countries will compete in this semi-final.

Ukraine's performance is particularly dramatic and features a male acrobat on a hamster wheel-like contraption while Mariya Yaremchuk sings Tick Tock. It is being widely interpreted as a comment on the country's relationship with Russia.

Russia is fielding the Tolmachevy Twins, 17-year-old sisters who are former winners of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and whose song, Shine, features a tricky staging on a platform that becomes a giant see-saw.

Irish novelty act
Jedward, who competed for Ireland in the 2011 and 2012 contests, are back this year to be given two novelty awards, for the tallest hair and highest shoulder pads in Eurovision history.

The aggregate bookmakers website Oddschecker currently indicates that Ireland's song this year, Heartbeat, will finish in eighth place in Thursday's semi-final – and thus qualify for the final. An RTÉ spokesperson said that Smith "is being described as a dark horse" this year.