As it happened: Ukraine rides wave of public support to win

Summary

Eurovision favourites Ukraine win after a resounding lead from the public vote
Their folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra asks for help for Ukrainian forces in besieged Mariupol, at the end of their song
The UK's Sam Ryder comes second in the contest - our highest position in over 20 years
Ukraine had been the favourite to win the contest, although the UK was in the lead after the jury vote
Some fans have been saying online they wanted to see fewer ballads and more bangers among the 25 entries
Switzerland gets zero votes from the public vote, but 78 from the jury

Live Reporting

Emma Saunders, Helen Bushby, Andree Massiah and Andre Rhoden-Paul

Serbian hand washingpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
An observation that Serbia's performance could have helped with the chief medical officer's messaging.
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Fancy outfitpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Kirstie Allsopp is an admirer of Sam Ryder's costume. Well, I mean, who isn't?!
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How are you celebrating Eurovision?published at 22:12 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Are you at a party? Have you got themed food on the go? Are you dressed up as an astronaut?! Send your images of your Eurovision celebrations to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp +44 7756 165803.
Image source, EBU/CORINNE CUMMING
Estonia – Stefan: Hopepublished at 22:12 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Guys, we’ve finally made it to the last act of the night! And appropriately enough in the land of the Spaghetti Western, we’re finishing with twingy-twangy country song.
Inspired by Johnny Cash and Sergio Leone, Stefan’s song has a simple message – don’t give up.
“Hope is very simple,” he says. “We all need it, and we have to stay strong and united. We all want peace in the world, and especially now we need hope for a better, brighter future.”
And for those of you who’ve been looking at that waterfall, and wondering if anyone’s brave enough to jump over it… keep your eyes on the second half of Stefan’s act.
WATCH: Kalush Orchestra: Please help Ukrainepublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Media caption,
Eurovision: Ukraine act calls on viewers to help Mariupol
Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra ended their performance by asking the audience to help Ukrainian forces in besieged Mariupol.
One of the folk-rap band says: "We ask of all of you please help Ukraine Mariupol.
"Help Azovstal right now."
It comes as Ukrainian defenders are holed up at the Azovstal steelworks as Russian forces bombard it in besieged Mariupol.
Sam Ryder's gone down wellpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
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Serbia - Konstrakta: In Corpore Sanopublished at 22:07 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Are you ready for a ballad about Meghan Markle’s hair and the importance of good bodily hygiene? Of course you are.
Serbia’s Konstrakta (aka Ana Duric) has the severe disposition of a school nurse giving a biology lesson to a class of unkempt teenagers.
“The pesky spots around the lips point to an enlarged spleen,” she scolds, as she washes her hands in a basin. “That‘s not a good spleen, not a very pretty spleen.”
The song has been interpreted by some as a critique of Serbia’s public healthcare system - which is, of course, a surefire way to attract votes from a teenager in Finland. But it’s become a cult favourite amongst Eurovision fans here in Turin.
On a poignant note, Duric’s old band Zemlja Gruva were also the opening act for Amy Winehouse at her last ever gig in Belgrade, in 2011.
Poland – Ochman: Riverpublished at 22:03 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
The song is called River, the dancers represent water and they make full use of the on-stage waterfall. If you’ve been holding going to the loo, go now before there’s an accident.
Ochman, who recently won his country’s version of The Voice, is the grandson of Polish tenor Wiesław Ochman – and he’s certainly inherited his granddad’s vocal powers.
At one point, he emotes so hard that the camera shakes. Or maybe that’s an effect, we’ll never know. (It’s definitely an effect).
Come on Sam, we are rooting for youpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
So says Graham Norton... Sam is going for it singing his head off, and the crowds are enjoying it, much cheering and whooping!
"What an outstanding performance, a sea of Union Jacks there, what a powerhouse performance," he adds.
UK – Sam Ryder: Space Manpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Well, here we go! I don’t want to jinx anything, but Sam Ryder has been killing it in rehearsals.
His song cleverly nods to a classic era of British rock, with traces of Rocket Man, Killer Queen and Space Oddity in its DNA. But does he have enough rocket fuel to end up in the top five? Watch this space.
Fun fact: Sam’s set is the biggest prop of the night, standing at six metres tall. It has to be folded in half to get it on stage, before it's hastily reconstructed in the 40 second between acts.
Superfan torn between Sweden and UKpublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Aaran Surendran
Eurovision superfan Aaron watching at home tells us he's torn between supporting Sweden and the UK.
The student, from Cheam, south London, said he is rooting for Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs for the win with her "touching" song Hold Me Closer.
But he says he also wants to support UK hopeful Sam Ryder because "it could be a turning point for us in the competition."
Beer named in honour of UK hopeful Sam Ryderpublished at 21:54 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Noel O'Leary
A pub in UK contender Sam Ryder's hometown has commissioned a special beer in his honour.
Noel O'Leary, manager of The Carpenters Arms in Maldon, Essex, says punters have packed out the pub to watch local lad Sam.
He says: "A lot of the locals know him and a few of the people who work here… are going to get right behind him.
"About a month ago we started the ball rolling by creating an ale called Sam Town.
“We did a blonde (beer) because he is blonde and it’s an ale inspired by him.”
How well has UK done in recent years?published at 21:53 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Getty Images
It is well known that the UK has not had that much luck with Eurovision in recent years.
In 2021, British singer James Newman came in bottom place with his tune Embers, unfortunately with zero points.
And in 2019, Michael Rice was also came last with Bigger Than Us, gaining 11 points.
Image source, .
The results are a far cry from the UK's long-gone glories, winning Eurovision with the likes of Bucks Fizz (1981), Lulu (1969), Sandie Shaw (1967), Brotherhood of Man (1976) and Katrina and the Waves (1997).
So all eyes are now on Sam Ryder for the UK... no pressure!
Australia - Sheldon Riley: Not The Samepublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Have you noticed that every time someone has a prop staircase tonight, it’s bigger than the last one? Inflation is seriously out of control.
Anyway, Sheldon Riley’s song is a real stop-you-in-your-tracks moment - exposing the pain of his childhood, growing up in public housing, being diagnosed with autism and slowly discovering his sexuality.
He started writing it when he was 15, coming up with the lyric “The light shines bright through those who are broke inside,” which became the main theme of his song.
“It didn’t matter how many times I was broken down and told who I couldn’t be, I remade myself into who I wanted to be,” he wrote on Facebook.
It doesn’t matter how the song performs, he’s achieved his dream simply by getting here.
Why is Australia in Eurovision?published at 21:50 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Image source, Getty Images
You may not know, but Eurovision is a pretty big deal down under.
The song contest has been broadcast in Australia every year since 1983.
But it wasn’t until 2015 that Aussies were allowed to take part when the show’s organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, waived the rules.
Hoping to beat Oz’s 2016 second place glory tonight will be Sheldon Riley.
Hailing from Sydney, Sheldon, who won a national selection show, will be singing moody ballad Not The Same.
Here's to Eurovision!published at 21:49 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Pip has sent a photo of a Eurovision party she's attending at the White Hart pub, Ellesmere, Shropshire. She says: "Big thanks to Mark and Joy for televising the event, and go the UK (&Ukraine)!!!"
Image source, Pip Elms
Graham Norton sums up the moodpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
As Moldova finished, he said: "That is what the arena needed, people are up and loving it. They are so happy for a big, uptempo number and that was a gift!"
Sweden - Cornelia Jakobs: Hold Me Closerpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Mark Savage
Music correspondent, BBC News
Image source, Getty
I won’t lie, this one makes my heart wobble.
Hold Me Closer is a bittersweet sadbanger in the style of Robyn and ABBA, that’s a favourite to make the top five.
Jakobs doesn’t need grand staging or elaborate dance routine to sell the song. Her only prop is literally a circle, focusing your attention on her vocals as she sings: “I met the right one at the wrong time.”
Eagle-eyed fans will notice she performs barefoot, like former Eurovision winners Emmelie De Forest, Sandie Shaw, Dima Bilan and Sweden’s own Loreen.
Pride over Ukraine's performancepublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
Sophie Williams
BBC News, Lviv, Ukraine
Here in Ukraine, there's a lot of pride over Kalush Orchestra's performance.
Many were pleased that the group took the opportunity to raise awareness of the situation in Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant where fighters remain stuck.
"I'm sure many people will search the internet for information about Mariupol and Azovstal and it's great," one person wrote on Telegram. "We need attention, a lot of attention."
"This is where history was written," another wrote.
Some people on the social media site were concerned that the group could be disqualified for its mention of the ongoing situation there.
"Even if they are disqualified, it is worth it," one person said.
Moldova brings back the energypublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 14 May 2022
That's woken us all up!
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