Australian hopeful Isaiah Firebrace through to Eurovision final

Australia’s Eurovision hopeful Isaiah Firebrace becomes our third representative to advance to the competition final.

Isaiah Firebrace celebrates making it into the Eurovision final. Picture: AP.

Australia’s Eurovision hopeful Isaiah Firebrace has made it through the first semi-final, becoming the third Australian representative to advance to the competition’s grand final.

The 17-year-old, who won season eight of the X Factor last year, performed his song Don’t Come Easy during the first semi-final held in Kiev, Ukraine, early this morning AEST.

Firebrace survived a slight vocal upset on a high note midway through the song, captivating the hearts of voters across Europe to win the chance to sing again in Sunday’s grand final.

The young singer from the small town of Moama in southern NSW was one of 10 performers to make it through to the penultimate sing-off.

Ten artists are selected from the 18 countries competing in both the semi-finals.

Other countries who made it through the first semi are Moldova, Azerbaijan, Greece, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, Armenia, Australia, Cyprus and Belgium.

Firebrace is the third Australian to compete in the contest, after Dami Im, who placed second in 2016, and Guy Sebastian, who took out fifth in 2015.

Fellow Australian singer Anja Nissen is also competing this year, representing Denmark. Nissen was born in western Sydney to Danish-born parents and was the third winner of The Voice in 2014.

She will compete in the second semi-final night to be held Friday morning Australian-time.