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U.S. credit card balances have surged in the past several years, from $787 billion in Q2 2021 to $1.2 trillion in Q2 2025. Though the pace of increases has slowed in 2025, average credit card interest rates still hover around 25%, leading to balances that swell faster than many can pay them down.

Image source: Getty Images.

Debt can happen at any age

There’s never a good time to get caught up in high-interest debt, but the situation is particularly critical when that debt prevents you from investing for retirement. Regardless of your current age, the last thing you want to do is give up aspects of your retirement because you can’t afford them.

Due to soaring inflation, retirees outspend their annual incomes by more than $4,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With limited options to bridge that financial gap, more are turning to credit cards to cover everyday expenses. In fact, 41% of households headed by someone between the ages of 65 and 74 carry credit card debt. Few of these households likely expected to depend on credit cards as they planned for retirement.

But it’s not just those who’ve reached retirement age who depend on credit cards. Experian offers this overview of average credit card debt by age:

What credit card debt means to retirement

Let’s say you’re 55, part of Generation X, and owe $9,600 in credit card debt. If your cards carry an average annual percentage rate (APR) of 25% and you make monthly credit card payments totaling $300, it will take you 54 months to pay the cards off. Worse, you’ll spend $6,384 on interest.

Now, imagine that your credit card debt didn’t exist, and you invested that $6,384 instead. Assuming an average annual return of 7%, it would be worth $12,558 in 10 years, $17,614 in 15 years, and $24,704 in 20 years. That’s assuming you never contribute another penny to the investment. It may not be a fortune, but any money invested can be combined with Social Security and other sources of income to help you in retirement.

Whether you’re an experienced or beginner investor, freeing up the money currently spent on monthly credit card payments is one of the surest ways to bolster your retirement savings.

The trick is to get your credit card debt under control. Here are three ideas to get you started.

1. Look into a consolidation loan

Consider a personal loan with a lower interest rate than you’re paying on your credit cards (ideally, much lower). Use that loan to pay off your credit cards and then make regular monthly payments until the loan is paid off in full.

Again, let’s say you owe $9,600 in credit card debt. The personal loan you land has an APR of 11%. By making the same monthly payment of $300, the loan will be paid off in 39 months rather than the 54 months it would have taken to pay down the credit cards. Better yet, you’ll spend $1,815 in interest, saving you $4,569.

2. Take advantage of a pay-down option

Snowball and avalanche methods are two of the most popular ways to pay off existing debt. Here’s how they work:

• Snowball method: Prioritize paying off your smallest debt first while continuing to make minimum payments on your other debts. Once the smallest debt is paid off, move to the next smallest balance, adding the money you were putting toward the first debt to pay down the second debt at a faster clip. Once the second smallest debt is paid off, move on to the third smallest, and so on. With each debt you pay off, you have more money available to pay toward the next one, creating a snowball effect.
• Avalanche method: Prioritize paying off the debt with the highest interest rate (regardless of balance). Once the debt with the highest rate is paid off, move to the debt with the next highest interest rate, and so on. Like the snowball method, each debt you pay off gives you more money for the next debt.

3. Consider a debt management plan

Debt management plans (DMPs) consolidate your credit card debt into a single monthly payment. Typically offered through certified credit counseling agencies, DMP counselors work on your behalf to:

• Help you determine how much you can afford to pay each month.
• Negotiate with your creditors to adjust your repayment terms.
• Accept your monthly payment and distribute it to your creditors.

While DMPs may be an effective way to climb out of debt, they can initially hurt your credit score, so be sure you understand the pros and cons before entering a DMP agreement.

Credit card debt is not insurmountable, but it does take effort to conquer. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can make progress toward your ideal retirement. Whether that’s fishing every day, visiting your grandkids, or retiring to a beach in a foreign country, it’s your dream to build.

Vicky Pattison left fans in stitches after her Strictly partner Kai Widdrington exposed how she acts during rehearsals on the Get A Grip podcast

Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison’s partner Kai Widdrington has revealed a hilarious behind-the-scenes habit.

Appearing together on the Get A Grip podcast hosted by Angela Scanlon, 41, and the TV star, 30, Kai teased that his celebrity partner pulls funny facial expressions during training. “We discovered this week the ‘Stank face’,” the 30-year-old joked. “When she’s really trying she’ll (acts it out).”

To which Vicky replied: “It’s like a toddler doing a poo. It’s awful. And I am not proud of it. I’m really upset.” Angela chimed in, “It is like an upside-down puppy,” while Vicky agreed, laughing, “Yeah… it’s like an old man.” This week, Vicky has been candid about the pressures of the competition. In a recent interview with Women’s Health UK, the 37-year-old admitted training has felt like “a baptism of fire.”

“All the pros are carved like angels, and I’m there sweating away in my gym gear,” she said.

“It’s both intimidating and overwhelming. But as you get older, you don’t often get the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. I like to prove I’m capable.”

While she’s built physical strength through weight training, Pilates, and charity treks, Vicky fears it’s the cardio that might hold her back. “Everyone is so fit,” she added.

Reflecting on her earlier reality TV days, Vicky said she felt less pressure entering the I’m A Celebrity… jungle in 2015, saying, “When you went into the jungle, everyone thought you were an arsehole, but you knew you could go in and change people’s perceptions,” a friend once told her.

“Now I’ve spent 10 years working to show people that I was young, making mistakes, and I wasn’t the best version of myself… I’m scared that under this spotlight, I’ll mess up.”

The Heart radio presenter also revealed she’s returned to therapy. “Maybe it’s working-class feelings of being undeserving. Maybe it’s deep-rooted self-doubt. I don’t know what it is, but it’s all come back,” she said.

Last week on Strictly Come Dancing, the Geordie Shore star and her partner performed a Gatsby‑themed Charleston and earned a total of 25 points from the judges, despite receiving mixed feedback from the judges.

For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

A COMMON phone mistake that you think is saving battery life is actually doing the opposite.

Millions of us do it every single day – but even Apple has warned users not to bother.

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Loads of iPhone owners spend time every day quitting their apps.

They’ll swipe them closed, quitting them in order to save a bit of battery life.

But Apple says it doesn’t actually save battery life at all.

“You should only close an app if it’s unresponsive,” Apple said.

The iPhone maker continued: “Typically, there’s no reason to quit an app.

“Quitting it doesn’t save battery power, for example.”

In fact, it could even be making things worse.

After you move to a different app, the old one will be “suspended”.

“After you’ve switched to a different app, some apps will run for a short period of time before they’re set to a suspended state,” Apple explained.

“Apps that are in a suspended state aren’t actively in use, open or taking up system resources.”

They’re kept in a suspended state so that it’s quicker and more power-efficient to relaunch them.

But if you fully force-quit an app, it will need to reboot from scratch, which is slower and takes up more power.

So it’s better to just leave them in a suspended state unless there’s an actual issue with the app – like it keeps freezing or crashing.

HOW TO CHECK WHAT’S REALLY DRAINING YOUR BATTERY

So what are you supposed to do if your iPhone’s battery life isn’t as good as you’d like?

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Well you can very easily check to see which apps and features are draining the most battery.

Just go into Settings > Battery and you can look at a long list of apps order by how much charge they’re using.

If there are any high-drain apps you don’t really care about, consider deleting them.

Or try turning off Background App Refresh for that app if you don’t want it to periodically check for new info (like email notifications). Just note that this might make the app work less well.

BATTERY SWAP

Another option is to check up on the health of your iPhone’s battery.

Over time – as you charge and discharge them – phone batteries get worse. This is just the nature of lithium ion batteries.

That means the more you use your iPhone, the less charge it will hold over time.

So your iPhone will run out of battery more quickly.

IPHONE BATTERY SWAP – HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Here’s how much you’ll pay for iPhone battery replacements in the UK and the US..

iPhone 5 Series

iPhone SE Series

• iPhone SE (1st gen) – £N/A / $69
• iPhone SE (2nd gen) – £65 / $69
• iPhone SE (3rd gen) – £65 / $69

iPhone 6 Series

• iPhone 6 – £N/A / $69
• iPhone 6s – £N/A / $69
• iPhone 6s Plus – £N/A / $69

iPhone 7 Series

• iPhone 7 – £65 / $69
• iPhone 7 Plus – £65 / $69

iPhone 8 Series

• iPhone 8 – £65 / $69
• iPhone 8 Plus – £65 / $69

iPhone X Series

iPhone XR/XS Series

• iPhone XR – £85 / $89
• iPhone XS – £85 / $89
• iPhone XS Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 11 Series

• iPhone 11 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 11 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 11 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 12 Series

• iPhone 12 mini – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 13 Series

• iPhone 13 mini – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 14 Series

• iPhone 14 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Pro – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Pro Max – £95 / $99

iPhone 15 Series

• iPhone 15 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Pro – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Pro Max – £95 / $99

iPhone 16 Series

• iPhone 16 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 16 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 16 Pro – £109 / $119
• iPhone 16 Pro Max – £109 / $119

Picture Credit: Apple

You can get to see how degraded your iPhone’s battery has become by going into Settings > Battery > Battery Health.

Normally you’d expect to be at around 80% capacity versus new after two years – or roughly 500 “charge cycles”, which are full charges and discharges.

That means your phone only holds 80% of the charge it held when it was new.

There’s no way to fix that beyond getting a new battery.

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Apple will replace your iPhone’s battery at the Apple Store. It usually costs somewhere between £60 and £100 / $60 and $100 depending on the model, but it could be more or less than that.

This will give you like-new battery life, and costs far less than buying a new iPhone.

You might even find that your iPhone’s performance improves, as sometimes processor speed can be limited as a protection feature if your battery is severely degraded.

Some restaurants in Spanish holiday hotspots like Majorca, Malaga and Zaragoza are reportedly taking on the rule

Brits jetting off to Majorca for their summer holidays need to be aware of a new rule being rolled out in some restaurants across the Spanish island, according to reports. If tourists are planning to treat themselves to a dinner as a group, a typical request is now being ‘banned’.

The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that holidaymakers considering splitting the bill at restaurants will be in for a shock in certain spots. Juanmi Ferrer, president of the CAEB Restaurants Association in Mallorca, was quoted as explaining that some dining establishments are starting to stop customers from settling the bill separately.

Ferrer said: “There is one bill per table, and it is up to the customers to deal with the payment. Some don’t want to pay for the wine, others specifically ask to pay for their dish. This gets complicated for the staff, and there can be items that no one is charged for. It is time-consuming and even more so if the bill doesn’t add up.”

In an era where tapping your bank card is quicker and more convenient than counting cash, dividing up a dinner tab usually leads to extra hassle for the staff, as opposed to guests doing the maths with cash in hand. Ferrer noted in the report that “only 30-40%” of diners opt to pay with bank notes and coins in 2025.

Ferrer highlights that the hassle of settling bills just piles onto the already tough workloads of restaurant workers. This is made even worse by a staffing shortage, an effect from the pandemic, it is claimed, that continues to plague the hospitality sector, reports Wales Online.

The “one table, one bill” rule is gaining traction in Spain. Holiday hotspots like Zaragoza, Málaga, and parts of Barcelona are adopting the policy, as reported by Euro Weekly.

Restaurants are implementing this approach in two main ways. Either, outright banning the splitting of bills, or permitting it but imposing a surcharge for each card transaction, usually between €1 and €2.

A Zaragoza restaurateur reportedly started this practice after finding it too time-consuming to process multiple payment requests simultaneously. This became particularly problematic during peak seasons like summer, when tourist numbers swell.

Is this allowed and what can I do when eating out?

Spanish legislation doesn’t specifically mention that businesses have to accommodate split payments, so restaurateurs are at liberty to set their payment policies. So, in essence, yes. Spanish restaurants can legally decline to split bills, provided they communicate their policy upfront through menu notices, visible signage and verbal explanation.

Plan how you’ll settle the bill before sitting down to dine to avoid any hassle. Discuss with your group whether to pool cash together or nominate one person to foot the bill and sort out transferring via bank transfer later.

If possible, ask for separate bills when you order. This helps the restaurant in managing payments more efficiently from the outset. Splitting bills can put additional strain on busy staff, so your patience and understanding will be appreciated.

Is Majorca the same as Mallorca?

Majorca and Mallorca are two names for the same island. “Majorca” is how you spell it in English, whereas “Mallorca” is the spelling in Spanish and Catalan, which is the official name. Both names are used interchangeably, but Mallorca is the more widely accepted and technically accurate term.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was left reeling as she aired warning and shared a major pet peeve

BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty couldn’t contain her irritation discussing the recent spike in water bills, as she spoke out on what she perceives as unnecessary wastage.

On the Saturday episode (July 12), Naga and fellow presenter Charlie Stayt welcomed Andy White from the Consumer Council for Water to chat about homeowners possibly switching to smart meters, with the promise that it could lead to significant financial advantages for some.

The water guru impressed on audiences that households with more bedrooms than occupants could find themselves a bit richer by opting for a smart meter, though he cautioned that there’s quite a backlog, and the transition wouldn’t be immediate.

While Andy was optimistic about the potential savings from exploring smart meter options with water providers, Naga shared her own opinion aimed at viewers who might be squandering water.

Andy mentioned that some individuals were now taking shorter showers to cut costs on both water and electricity. This prompted Naga to interject with a robust piece of advice, reports the Express.

She didn’t mince her words, telling fans: “And don’t leave the tap running when you’re brushing your teeth,” which Andy supported with a firm “Absolutely,” as Naga further added: “It winds me up no end when people do that.”

“It’s pointless,” agreed Andy, to which Naga echoed: “Pointless,” before expressing gratitude towards him for his insights.

On the programme, the conversation shifted to dire warnings about “extreme wildfires in Scotland“. Charlie introduced the topic: “An extreme wildfire warning is in place across Scotland as temperatures continue to soar this weekend.”

Naga elaborated on the situation: “The Scottish fire and rescue team is urging people to be cautious after tackling multiple incidents over the last few weeks.”

The presenter emphasised the need for extra caution in Scotland, adding: “Including large wildfires that burned over four days in the north of Scotland. No one was injured but a large area of countryside has been badly affected.”

Garry Mackay from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appeared via video link to give a live update. He described the “unusual” conditions in Scotland, with high temperatures, strong winds, and no rain.

He informed viewers about the “significant” wildfires his teams had recently battled in rural areas, which he said were a “drain on their resources” and posed a “challenge” for the firefighters.

With the forecast predicting even hotter weather over the weekend, he called for the public and communities to remain alert and extremely careful with anything involving a “naked flame”, including “cigarette ends and having open fires”.

BBC Breakfast is broadcast daily on BBC One, starting at 6am.

A member of cabin crew has shared the one thing that you should never do when you’re flying on a plane, with many Brits admitting to using the unhygienic storage

A flight attendant has revealed the part of a plane that should be avoided at all costs.

CiCi in the Sky, who describes herself as a ‘sky ally’ and ‘travel alchemist’, boasts over 300,000 TikTok followers who turn to her for expert guidance on air travel. The aviation specialist recently revealed the dirtiest parts of the plane she’d recommend avoiding.

She strongly advises against using seat pockets, labelling them as “gross” due to the variety of items people shove into them. The cabin crew member then cautioned her audience to refrain from stowing their coats or other loose belongings in the overhead bins, again highlighting hygiene concerns.

“I mean I’ve never seen them cleaned and I’ve seen people’s stuff spill out of their bags and get all over people’s jackets, clothes or whatever so just don’t do it,” Cici said.

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READ MORE: Full list of Europe hotspots that don’t want Brit tourists to visit this summer

A Reddit user going by the name HausofDarling issued a stark warning on the ‘Flight attendants of Reddit’ forum, advising passengers to steer clear of using the seat pocket on commercial jets. They cautioned: “I always recommend you never, ever, ever, ever use or put anything in the seat pocket. They are cleared of rubbish but are never ‘cleaned’.”

The flight attendant went on to describe the unsavoury items they’ve encountered in these pockets: “I have pulled out and seen all sorts being pulled out from there. Dirty tissues, sick bags, knickers, socks, gum, half sucked sweets, apple cores, and then next flight you go and put your phone, laptop or iPad in there.”

Another crew member, choosing to remain anonymous, corroborated these claims with their own grim discoveries, including: “I once discovered vomit outside of the paper bag which spilled through the seat pocket. It was absolutely awful, but what can you do?”.

READ MORE: Little-known plane rule means Brits risk being hit with £53 fines onboardREAD MORE: Universal reveals new UK theme park will have FOUR lands as more details unveiled

Despite such horrors, new research from AllClear Travel Insurance reveals that 7 in 10 (70%) travellers admit to unhygienic habits while flying Topping the list is storing personal items inside the seatback pocket (30%) – one of the most unhygienic parts of the plane – followed by resting your head on the tray table (19%) and using the toilet without shoes or in socks (13%)

AllClear also spoke to an ex-flight attendants about the horrors of the seat pocket. They said: “Sometimes dirty nappies and used sick bags would be left in seat pockets.”

Almost a third of travellers (29%) store their personal items and food in seatback pockets, but these areas are rarely cleaned. Where possible, travellers should try to store snacks in resealable containers and sanitise their hands if they use the pockets.

It was another day of drama in the Love Island villa tonight as the Islanders got to know new bombshells Billykiss and Ryan after their shock arrival during last night’s episode

It seemed to be the end of the road for Harrison and Toni during tonight’s Love Island – but fans were more focused on the 22-year-old’s bizarre sleeping habit.

Toni was celebrating her 25th birthday – but it probably wasn’t the best celebration she’s ever had, as she learnt Harrison and Helena had shared another kiss the night before. Despite the arguments, Harrison tried to rekindle things with Toni by making a birthday breakfast, but she wasn’t having any of it, as she took him to the terrace to end things.

“You made your bed, lie in it,” Toni said, as she told Harrison to go off and be with Helena. Ironically, fans happened to notice Harrison’s ‘bizarre’ sleeping pattern in tonight’s episode, as they couldn’t help but realise he slept sitting up.

“Harrison defo got a sore back tomorrow sleeping sitting up,” said one, while another said: “has anyone else noticed how Harrison always sleeps like sitting up LOL.”

As for now, Toni and Harrison are still coupled up so they’ll be sharing a bed in the meantime. However, if things continue the way they are, Harrison and Helena may be sharing a bed together in the near future.

Elsewhere, Billykiss and Ryan enjoyed their first day in the villa. Billykiss decided to take Conor and Dejon for a date, whereas Ryan invited Shakira and Toni out. During tonight’s episode, the rest of the Islanders got to know the new bombshells – but it seems they only had eyes for certain people.

Following their date, Billykiss and Conor continued the vibes back at the villa. Billykiss’ arrival came at the perfect time for Conor, after his partner Megan was dumped from the villa following last week’s public vote. Despite Conor being all for Billykiss, the bombshell’s eyes are elsewhere…

Later on in the episode, she was seen pulling Dejon for a chat. Despite Dejon saying he had a great connection with Meg, she wasn’t too convinced and expressed her worries that her partner’s head could finally be turned.

Billykiss and Dejon’s chat took an awkward turn in front of Meg tonight, when Tommy remarked the two were getting on like a house on fire. It seemed Dejon couldn’t hide his attraction towards the new bombshell, as she pointed out that he kept staring at her.

Could Billykiss be the one to turn Dejon’s head?

Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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Brits heading to beaches this summer may want to double check the local rules and guidelines – or they could face hefty fees for an easy mistake

Brits planning a staycation this summer will want to take note of one habit that could land them with a £1,000 fine.

When heading to the beach, it doesn’t seem uncommon to pick up a shell or pebble to take home as a memento; but this seemingly harmless habit actually can have ramifications on an area’s eco-system, not to mention you could inadvertently be breaking the law.

In fact, the Coast Protection Act 1949 makes it illegal to remove natural materials from beaches, with the law aiming to protect coastal environments by preventing erosion and preserving natural habitats.

It’s not just pebbles and sand – the law covers any kind of natural materials taken from public beaches. (It’s worth noting that the Coast Protection Act applies to beaches across England and Wales only – Scotland has its own version.)

READ MORE: Popular UK beach with ‘legendary’ seaside charm is ‘one of the world’s best’READ MORE: ‘Pretty island’ 4 hours from UK often overlooked by tourists – but shouldn’t be

Eco experts at Arbtech have warned that pebbles and sand play an important part in a beach’s natural defence against erosion, absorbing wave energy which protects cliffs, dunes, and inland areas.

They add that beach materials such as shells or driftwood can also provide microhabitats for wildlife, so taking these materials can directly disturb local ecosystems.

Andrew Ward from Arbtech said: “What may seem like a harmless holiday keepsake is, in fact, part of a delicate and vital ecosystem, and could even cost you a fine of up to £1,000. One person taking a pebble or shell may not seem like much, but when thousands of visitors are doing the same, it can have drastic impacts on the coastal environment.

“Over time we could start to see increased erosion, the loss of natural sea defences, and disruption to habitats that many species rely on. The law is clear and it’s not just there to spoil any fun. It’s a reminder that beaches are protected for a reason. We all have a role to play in preserving the environment so that it can continue to thrive for generations to come.”

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More often than not, beaches will have clear signs warning visitors against removing the pebbles and sands, and there have been reports in previous years of tourists being ordered to return pebbles to the beach, or face receiving a fine, even after they have left the coast.

It’s not the first time that tourists have been warned when it comes to rocks or pebbles in tourist hotspots. In recent years there’s been increasing calls for visitors to stop ‘rock stacking’, especially in national parks.

Rock stacks, or cairns, can be found on many of the highest peaks across the nation, and have become a popular activity for hikers. While rock stacking is seen by some as an art form, others have slammed the practice as just being an excuse for someone to take a photo for their social media feeds.

Meanwhile, environmental campaigners have warned that moving rocks from their spot on a beach or in the countryside can have a knock-on ecological effect, such as accidentally destroying a nest or home of local wildlife.

Do you have a travel story to tell us? Email us at [email protected].

The BBC presenters were slammed for talking over the official Eurovision hosts, Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer.

While Eurovision fans were thrilled by the latest batch of offerings at the semi-finals on Thursday night (May 15), they were less than impressed by the ongoing commentary made by BBC presenters Rylan Clark and Scott Mills.

While 16 countries battled it out in Switzerland, for one of just 10 spots in Saturday’s Grand Final, viewers took to social media to accuse Rylan and Scott of “talking over everything” and making it harder to enjoy the show. One person watching the song contest at home took to the internet to hit out at the presenters, fuming: “If the BBC One commentators would just shut up now and again, Eurovision would be much more enjoyable instead of talking over top of everyone.”

Another chimed in, adding: “Jesus Christ. Scott and Rylan wait for the bloody song to finish before you start the insane chatter.” While the cheeky duo are known for their light-hearted banter, not everyone was in the mood for their running jokes tonight.

One X user pleaded: “I beg commentators to let us watch the show and stop talking OVER EVERYTHING (and yes I’m looking at you Marty, Rylan and Scott).” A fourth aimed their protest directly at the BBC figures, exclaiming: “C’mon Rylan and Scott, let us hear what they are saying!”

“Why are Rylan and Scott talking over the presenters?” another fan asked bluntly, in reference to the UK broadcasting team speaking over the official Eurovision hosts Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer.

However, some viewers defended them, saying they prefer to hear Rylan and Scott’s thoughts on the performances over those of the official hosts. “In stitches at Scott Mills and Rylan tonight,” one fan tweeted. “Brilliant commentators and PLEASE keep talking over the hosts.”

Earlier in the night, viewers also weighed in on Hazel Brugger’s fashion choices, making fun of her glittery sequined dress which they compared to early 2000s CDs and a fish from the cover of a children’s book.

Tonight’s performance kicked off with Australian singer Go-Jo performing his eccentric song Milkshake Man. This was followed by catchy tunes from Ireland, Latvia, and Armenia.

Viewers seemed especially obsessed with Lithuania’s performance, which involved a wind machine and flying debris on stage. The ten countries that made it through to Saturday’s final have been announced, and they include Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta.

Unfortunately this means that Australia, Czechia, Georgia, Ireland, Montenegro, and Serbia will be sent home without a trophy. Several Eurovision fans correctly predicted three of the losing nations ahead of tonight’s performances.

Internet sleuths guessed that Georgia would be eliminated because their song was less powerful than the pieces composed by other countries. One also said that the singer representing Ireland sounded too “nervous”, which would cost her points.

Country-pop trio Remember Monday are representing the UK this year, and took to the stage for the first time tonight with their theatrical entry What the Hell Just Happened? The song captures the chaos of the morning after a night that has gone off the rails. They are already guaranteed a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final as part of the ‘big five’, which includes Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.

The Eurovision Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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