EUROVISION fans were left devastated as Olly Alexander failed to make enough of an impact – and got zero points from the public vote.
The UK’s entry in this year’s competition, at the Malmo Arena in Sweden on Saturday, scored just 46 points after the juries and public placed their votes, while Swiss group Nemo topped the leaderboard.
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Olly Alexander ended up getting no votes from the public in a huge blowCredit: AP
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Olly Alexander represented Great Britain with the song DizzyCredit: EPA
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Nemo of Switzerland who performed the song The Code were over the moon with their votesCredit: AP
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Baby Lasagna from Croatia was the favourite to win this year and came in secondCredit: Getty
Saturday’s controversial show saw 25 countries perform after a week of tensions around Israel’s participation during the Gaza war.
Years and Years frontman Olly was the UK’s most high-profile Eurovision entry in more than a decade – and there were high hopes.
He secured his place in the final at Malmo Arena, representing one the show’s “five big countries”.
But despite having a huge fanbase in the UK, Olly’s performance came under fire with some claiming there were sound issues throughout.
Eurovision legend Cheryl Baker, 70, whose band Bucks Fizz won the contest in 1981, said “the song doesn’t do it for me”.
She added: “When it starts, you think, it’s okay. But then it doesn’t go anywhere.
“You know, dare I say it, you need a couple of key changes.
Olly previously defended his vocals after the semi-finals, but some felt it was not much better this time round – and he ended up in 18th place.
Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with The Code, an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
Nemo beat Croatia’s Baby Lasagna to the title by winning the most points from a combination of national juries and viewers around the world.
As they accepted their award, they said: “I want to say thank you so much – I hope this contest can live up to its promise and continue to stand for peace and dignity for every person in this world.”
The competition has been mired in controversy surrounding the participation of Israel’s Eden Golan, and a large group of demonstrators were outside Malmo Arena as the acts performed.
Tens of protesters were arrested, with several detained and taken away by police – including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Israeli entry Eden, who had been forced to stay in her hotel room amid fears she would be targeted by pro-Palestine protesters, had to be escorted to the grand final by 100 cops in 12 cars.
A wall of police officers pushed some 1,000 activists away from the gates of the arena and formed a protective shield around terrified guests as they arrived from the local train station.
Ticketholders were urged to hurry inside the stadium as the furious mob of demonstrators got within feet of their faces and chanted: “Shame on you.”
It was the first time protesters had directly targeted Eurovision attendees.
The feeling was muted
By Howell Davies
THE drama is usually on the stage but this year it was the action away from the songs which was getting hearts racing, for all the wrong reasons.
At previous contests, the atmosphere in the hosting arena has been absolutely electric but last night it felt muted and confusing.
The antics of the 48 hours before the final — with the Netherlands being withdrawn and acts refusing to rehearse — led to an uncertainty about whether anyone would even take to the stage.
Despite Brits’ high hopes of an Olly Alexander win, the magic of a night celebrating the joy of music and unity had very much faded.
Activists were seen resisting arrest and scrapping with officers, with as many as six cops needed to restrain some protesters and load them into cop vans.
Pictures emerged last night of climate zealot Greta Thunberg being dragged away by police, before she was seen about an hour later outside the Malmo Arena – to be dragged away by cops once more.
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands’ entry Joost Klein was disqualified by Eurovision organisers following an alleged incident between the singer and a camerawoman.
Eurovision singers earlier came under fire for bullying the Eden, with booing heard from the crowd before, during, and after her performance in the semi-finals on Thursday.
The contest was opened by Sweden’s contestants Marcus & Martinus, before Ukraine’s Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil sang their religious themed Teresa & Maria prior to Germany’s Isaak delivering an emotional performance of Always On The Run.
Several contestants appeared to reference conflicts throughout the world, with Lithuania’s Silvester Belt telling the audience to “spread love to the world”, while Bambie declared “love will always triumph hate”.
At the end of Portugal’s Iolanda singing Grito, she told the crowd: “Peace will prevail.”
Slimane, who performed his song Mon Amour, issued another message saying that people should be “united by music for love and peace”.
Olly took the zero points from the public very well
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Olly poses with a giant flag during the opening paradeCredit: AP
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Nemo celebrated their win
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Israeli singer Eden Golan was escorted from her hotel to Malmo Arena by 100 Swedish cops
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Crowds gather to protest Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song ContestCredit: Reuters
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Police perform a barricade in front of Pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Malmo Arena venue ahead of tonight’s finalCredit: AFP
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Climate activist Greta Thunberg was amongst those detained by police ahead of tonight’s showCredit: Reuters
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Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan successfully performed at the Eurovision final despite the chaosCredit: Reuters
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The final results for tonight
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Nemo screamed with joy as they beat Croatia
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Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil from Ukraine got a huge score from the public
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