1735: Lizzie Simmonds stands just above Gemma Spofforth on the Budapest podium as they collect their gold and silver medals. Two days down and we've seen two British gold medals, two silvers and a bronze. More to come? I'm back at 1600 BST on Wednesday, see you then.

1732: Some huge British swims today and more could be on the way on Wednesday, with Robbie Renwick through to the 200m freestyle final, Joe Roebuck in the 200m IM and Fran Halsall going in the women's 100m free final. How do you rate Tuesday's performances, especially with a view to the Commonwealths, and what do you reckon will happen on Wednesday? Let me know on 606 or tweet me (@BBCSport_Ollie).

Robbie Renwick, through to the 200m freestyle final: "It was a good swim, I surprised myself there a little bit. I'd been feeling a bit stiff in the pool in the afternoon but hopefully I'll swim faster and get involved with the medals on Wednesday."

1723: Ross Davenport is the last British swimmer in action, in the second men's 200m freestyle semi, and he doesn't quite do enough to join Robbie Renwick in Wednesday's final. Davenport is equal 10th and outside the qualifying places, but Renwick is fourth-fastest overall and goes through.

1718: Back to the last action of the night, where Britain's Robbie Renwick is back in the pool for the first men's 200m freestyle semi-final. And if you thought that one-two in the backstroke was your lot, then forget it - the results keep coming as Renwick wins his semi-final in a time of 1:47.94. British swimmers are starting to deliver some top performances here, Commonwealths or no Commonwealths.

Gemma Spofforth, European 200m backstroke silver medallist: "I wasn't really focusing on this meet as much as October but, to be honest, I wanted to win. There's a lot of disappointment there but a one-two is great, and great for the team. I wouldn't want to be beaten by anyone else but it's great to be beaten by Lizzie.

"I always used to be a 100m swimmer but I think of them both (100m and 200m) as equal now. I'm still learning how to swim the 200m - today I put more effort into my third 50m than I normally would. I just need to take it out a bit faster."

Lizzie Simmonds, European 200m backstroke champion: "I'm really, really pleased. Coming into this competition, the heats and semis were a process to ensure I made the final, I was conserving a bit of energy. Tonight was my big swim, I really went for it and it paid off.

"Coming down that last leg, I wasn't entirely sure if I was ahead or not, there was a lane between me and Gemma. But I gave it everything hoping I could hang on. I touched the wall and saw the scoreboard in disbelief."

From Rebecca Adlington on Twitter: "Oh my god! Lizzie Simmonds you are my hero!"

1708: Our TV commentary team, and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra's Bob Ballard, all called that one correctly. Simmonds trumps Spofforth for the European gold - but can she hold off the Spoff at the Commonwealths?

1706: Simmonds gets off to a great first 50m, well out ahead, and she maintains it to the halfway point inside European record pace with Spofforth well back. But can she sustain it? Yes, she can, in some style too. Lizzie Simmonds takes 200m backstroke gold in a time of 2:07.04 with Gemma Spofforth surging back through the field to take silver. A one-two! See that hype down there? That entire page-worth of it? Justified.

1703: Almost time for that 200m backstroke final, which I feel I've now hyped to the point where if no Britons win medals, the world may implode. Just before that, time to tell you our report on Liam Tancock taking backstroke bronze is now available, with more to follow soon.

Joe Roebuck, who qualified for the men's 200m IM final: "It was a good swim, good to get into a European final, that's my first over the long course. I'm really enjoying racing, just getting in there and mixing it up. We're not really tapered for this meeting but hopefully I can pull out something on Wednesday."

1658: The big one is almost upon us: Gemma Spofforth, 100m backstroke world champion, and Lizzie Simmonds, world number one so far this year in the 200m backstroke, are about to do battle in the European 200m backstroke final. Both Andy Jameson and Adrian Moorhouse, in the BBC commentary box, predict Simmonds will win this one ahead of Spofforth - but that Spofforth, once fully rested, will win it in Delhi at the Commonwealths.

1653: Joe Roebuck keeps pace with the leaders for the first half of his 200m IM semi-final - then, as Hungarian home favourite Laszlo Cseh strolls to victory, Roebuck comes back exceptionally on the breaststroke leg. His time of 1:59.74 gets him into the final in fifth, an excellent result for him and for Britain.

From Owen Laverty on Twitter: "Putting Commonwealths first might have been relevant 10 years ago, but compare the competition now and it's nonsensical."

1646: Now we have a second set of semi-finals, this time the men's 200m individual medley. Watch out for Britain's Joe Roebuck in the second semi, after which we have Tuesday's main event (from a British perspective), the delicious prospect of Lizzie Simmonds and Gemma Spofforth battling for medals in the women's 200m backstroke final.

1644: The women's 100m breaststroke semis come to a close, with Russia's Yuliya Efimova, world silver medallist last year, fastest in a time of 1:06.80. Remember you can get full live timings for each race from the website of timing company Omega.

1641: Seen Liam Tancock's shoes yet? Dear oh dear. First he has his face on a lorry and now this.

From Number6Valverde on 606: "Are the Commonwealth Games really bigger than the Europeans? Surely the competition is higher in Euros?"

I've been weighing this up for a while and I'm still not entirely sure which, if it were me, I'd rather win. Not a decision I'm ever likely to have to make, admittedly.

1636: The women's 100m breaststroke semis are about to start. No British interest here for two noteworthy reasons - Kate Haywood was disqualified for a fly kick in the heats, and Achieng Ajulu-Bushell came last in her heat, as we've been discussing. But there is still the prospect of a British one-two in the women's 200m backstroke to come.

1634: Back to the racing then, and the men's 100m breaststroke final is something of a swim in the park for Alexander Dale Oen of Norway, who puts France's Hugues Duboscq in his place in a time of 59.20. A new championship record, too.

From Jacks1988 on 606: "You can't really hold Achieng Ajulu-Bushell's performance against her. She's only 16 and developing. I'm sure, come 2012, she will be right up there with the best."

How about some words for Liam Tancock, then? An amazing turnaround to go from failing to qualify to picking up bronze, but how will he ever take on the likes of Camille Lacourt in 2012? Lacourt, who hasn't had that high a profile until recently (he's 25), was phenomenal in that race. Talk to me on 606 or send me a tweet with your thoughts (I'm @BBCSport_Ollie).

Liam Tancock, 100m backstroke European bronze medallist: "Outside lane, outside smoker - fate was on my side when Markus Rogan pulled out, I jumped at the chance and sometimes you have to, even though I'm not fully prepared to be racing fast here.

"Two years back I came to the Europeans and just missed out on the final, then four days later I broke the world record. Don't beat yourself up when you don't do well, just enjoy it."

1621: Sixteen-year-old Sjoestroem, clearly still tired out from the freestyle semis she's only just starred in, can't put up any fight in this final and it's team-mate Therese Alshammar - twice Sjoestroem's age - who canters to the 50m fly gold.

1619: No sooner has Tancock finished celebrating his unlikely bronze than everyone is hurried unceremoniously away to make room for the women's 50m fly final. Watch out for Swedish duo Therese Alshammar and Sarah Sjoestroem (who seems to be in every final, I swear).

1617: As predicted, Tancock touches at the halfway mark in second place. Camille Lacourt surges on to gold by a country mile in a time of 52.11, a new European record and not that far off the world mark (set using ultra-fast suits, remember). But wait - who's this picking up the bronze? It's Liam "didn't qualify for this final" Tancock! What a result.

1614: We immediately, breathlessly move on to the men's 100m backstroke final. Defending champion Markus Rogan has pulled out so Britain's Liam Tancock, who finished ninth in the semis and initially missed out, is promoted into lane eight and has a chance at a medal. BBC commentator Andy Jameson reckons Tancock will "go out like a maniac and die like a horse". Which promises to be an interesting visual spectacle, if nothing else. France's Camille Lacourt has to be the favourite after a superb semi-final performance.

1612: Fran Halsall tires a little at the end of her 100m freestyle semi but comes home second behind Swedish teenager Sarah Sjoestroem, who potentially has a big championships ahead of her. That result means Halsall is comfortably through to the final as the third-fastest swimmer, but Amy Smith, down in 12th, won't progress.

From Speed Endurance on Twitter: "It was a mistake for Achieng to swim at the Youth Championships if she wanted to swim fast here. Hopefully she'll get it right in Delhi."

1607: The Netherlands' Femke Heemskerk wins the first 100m free semi, with Amy Smith back in sixth, despite a fairly strong swim. However, the second semi starring Fran Halsall is likely to be faster.

1605: The women's 100m free semi-finals are upon us. Amy Smith swims for Britain in the first semi, then Fran Halsall is up in the second. If you want a full run-down of the best races and big names then check out the day-by-day guide we've compiled for these championships.

1603: We're already into our first race - they don't hang around in Budapest - and it's the men's 50m fly final. No Britons made it through, so the focus is on Rafael Munoz, the world record-holding Spaniard who has found himself skating on thin ice with regard to governing body Fina's anti-doping committee recently. And Munoz roars back to win gold in a time of 23.17 seconds, fractionally slower than his qualifying time to reach the final.

1600: What do you reckon about Achieng, then? How disappointed should she be about her 100m breaststroke performance? Given the Commonwealths are the focus, can mistakes in Hungary be easily forgiven - especially for someone so young, at 16 years of age?

BBC commentator Andy Jameson tells me: "She's had exams recently, but then she swam a time at the national age-groups last week that would have qualified her here." Let me know what you think on 606 or on Twitter - I'm @BBCSport_Ollie.

From David on 606: "Was Achieng Ajulu-Bushell's performance due to fatigue from last week's Youth Nationals, where she swam 1:09.97 in the semis? Being at competitions can be quite draining."

1547: That race will be Tuesday's last final, but there has already been plenty of action in Budapest since I was last with you on Monday. Sneaky Devonian backstroker Liam Tancock has squeaked into his 100m final after a withdrawal, despite initially failing to qualify, and 16-year-old Achieng Ajulu-Bushell finished last in her 100m breaststroke heat earlier today. That's a reasonably disastrous result from her point of view but possibly further evidence of the fatigue facing GB swimmers, who are training with the Commonwealths in mind, not the Europeans.

1543: Hello, everybody. The stage is set for day two of the European Swimming Championships and, after Britain's women had a fantastic start on day one - gold for Hannah Miley and silver for the 4x100m freestyle team - Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds now have the chance to add more medals in the 200m backstroke final.