Eurovision final – as it happened: Ukraine wins with Kalush Orchestra’s song Stefania

Ukraine hip-hop group triumphs, while singer-songwriter Sam Ryder does the UK proud

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra performs Stefania at 2022 Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision 2022 final proved to be one of the liveliest and most competitive in recent memory.

While the atmosphere was still good-humoured, the sheer quality of the 25 countries competing this year presented voters with some tough decisions.

Ultimately, though, favourites Ukraine and their entry Kalush Orchestra were crowned the winners, leaving many to wonder if the country will be able to host the contest in 2023.

Sam Ryder, a singer-songwriter who rose to fame on TikTok, performed original song “Space Man” and – despite previous dismal efforts from the UK – won over much of the audience, and the jury too, to come second place.

“It’s been phenomenal,” he told The Independent of the support he’s received. “The whole team have been working so hard going around Europe, using as much time as we could to do TV, radio, singing on street corners… Everywhere we’ve been, there’s been nothing but kindness and good vibes.”

A trio of famous presenters led proceedings for the evening, with pop singer Mika joining fellow hosts Italian TV personality Alessandro Cattelan and Italian singer Laura Pausini on stage.

The liveblog is now closed.

Eurovision 2022 key points

• Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest
• The UK’s painful Eurovision history – in numbers
• Why is Russia banned from Eurovision 2022?
• UK’s Sam Ryder praised for rousing performance of Space Man
• Ukraine gives douze points to UK’s Sam Ryder as results come in

[14 May 2022 21:01 · Roisin O'Connor]

Spain’s Eurovision 2022 contestant Chanel plays Slomo

You should see the press room right now, the Spanish contigent are going absolutely bonkers for Chanel and her song “Slomo”. It’s classic Spain, to be sure they’re not trying anything new this year, but hey, it’s a crowd-pleaser!

[14 May 2022 21:09 · Roisin O'Connor]

Here we go, Ukraine!

It’s Kalush Orchestra for Ukraine! Formed in 2019, the group consists of founder and rapper Oleh Psiuk, multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, and dancer Vlad Kurochka.

The lyrics to “Stefania” are an ode to mothers and the trials they face raising families. The band’s live performance features synchronised dance moves, breakdance and flutes.

These guys are one of the favourites to win!

[14 May 2022 21:19 · Roisin O'Connor]

Lithuania and Germany performances are muted affairs after Ukraine

Ukraine are obviously a tough act to follow, but Germany and Lithuania’s entries did their best. That really was a tremendous performance from Kalush Orchestra, and will hopefully silence the naysayers claiming they’d only win for political reasons. It’s a fantastic song and they delivered a superb live performance.

[14 May 2022 21:23 · Roisin O'Connor]

Azerbaijan’s contestant Nadir Rustamli sings ‘Fade To Black'

I actually really like Azerbaijan’s entry, I think it’s one of the better ballads of this year’s contest, and he hits a really impressive note at the climax that had everyone gasping during the rehearsals.

[14 May 2022 21:29 · Roisin O'Connor]

Coming up...

Left to perform we have:

• Greece: Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord – Die Together
• Iceland: Systur – Með Hækkandi Sól
• Moldova: Zdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brothers – Trenulețul
• Sweden: Cornelia Jakobs – Hold Me Closer
• Australia: Sheldon Riley – Not The Same
• United Kingdom: Sam Ryder – SPACE MAN
• Poland: Ochman – River
• Serbia: Konstrakta – In Corpore Sano
• Estonia: Stefan – Hope

Come on Sam!

[14 May 2022 21:39 · Roisin O'Connor]

A nice but not particularly mind-blowing performance from Iceland with “Með Hækkandi Sól”. Very polite.

[14 May 2022 21:44 · Roisin O'Connor]

Moldova...

I have no words. There was a conga line in the press tent. Absolutely outstanding.

[14 May 2022 21:50 · Roisin O'Connor]

Sweden gets a big roar of approval

So Swedish pop singer Cornelia Jakobs is one of the favourites to win this year... I’m not so convinced. I feel like the good Eurovision ballads are the ones that tell a story, and I don’t get that from “Hold Me Closer”.

[14 May 2022 21:51 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision fans adore Norway’s contestant Subwoolfer

Fans have praised Norway for delivering a quintessentially “wacky” Eurovision performance.

The annual song contest is well underway on Saturday night (14 May), with events unfolding in Turin, Italy, this year.

Subwoofer represented Norway, and a Red Riding Hood-inspired song titled “Give That Wolf a Banana” that will likely go down in Eurovision history.

The group performed the track while wearing yellow wolf masks that conceal their identity.

Fans took to Twitter to share their reactions to the song and its strange lyrics.

[14 May 2022 21:55 · Roisin O'Connor]

Here’s the Eurovision press tent reaction to Moldova

I managed to record a bit of the press tent reacting to Moldova’s performance – they LOVED it.