Eurovision 2024 – live: ‘Life is forever changed’ says Bambie Thug after chaotic contest

Switzerland was crowned the winner as boos were heard during appearances by Israel’s entry Eden Golan, while the UK’s Alexander managed to avoid coming last in the contest

UK's Eurovision entry Olly Alexander breaks silence after Netherlands singer disqualified

Reactions to the most chaotic Eurovision in history are pouring in after Switzerland act Nemo was crowned as this year’s winner.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest was held in Malmö, Sweden, with scores arriving from the 25 countries that performed in the final, and in the wake of behind-the-scenes chaos.

Despite winning the contest, Nemo has not held back in their assessment of the organisers after it was revealed audience members were not permitted to bring non-binary flags into the arena.

Meanwhile, Irish delegate Bambie Thug has tearfully accused organisers of “not supporting them” over a row with an Israeli broadcaster. Afterwards, they said their life is “forever changed”.

Throughout the event, Pro-Palestine demonstrations took place outside the arena, with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg removed by police.

Israel’s delegate Eden Golan performed early in the contest, with the BBC’s Graham Norton remarking on the boos heard by the crowd.

The UK’s entry Olly Alexander received a rather low score for his song “Dizzy”, after Ireland’s Bambie Thug dazzled with “Doomsday Blues”, following speculation that they could pull out of the final after missing the dress rehearsal.

Follow live updates below:

Eurovision 2024 key points

• Switzerland wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
• Eurovision 2024 review: Contest unfolds under the darkest shadow in its history
• Katie Price was the Eurovision winner that got away
• Watch the moment Nemo wins the Eurovision final

[11 May 2024 23:02 · Roisin O'Connor]

Switzerland getting a lot of the jury votes for Nemo

Nemo looks shocked as they receive a clutch of douze points from the jury votes!

So far nul points for the UK, but Ireland is looking good, as is Italy, Portugal and Croatia.

A reminder that the public vote can change everything...

[11 May 2024 22:55 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision 2024 favourites: Our Top 10, from Croatia’s Baby Lasagna to Ireland’s Bambie Thug

From zany novelty songs to club bangers and heartfelt ballads, the competition at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is fierce. We take a look at our favourites

[11 May 2024 22:46 · Roisin O'Connor]

TV chat show host Graham Norton said “it's been quite an eventful Eurovision this year” as the annual song contest kicked off.

The music competition is taking place in Malmo Arena after Swedish singer Loreen won the contest last year with her song Tattoo.

As the competition got under way on Saturday, Norton, 61, who is the commentator for coverage on BBC One said: “It's been quite an eventful Eurovision this year, but hopefully tonight we will bring you the usual beauty, mayhem, madness and of course, male nudity.”

This year protesters have called for a boycott of Eurovision over Israel's inclusion in the contest amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

During the grand final the country's entry, Eden Golan, performed her song Hurricane to audible boos and cheers in the arena.

Irish TV presenter Norton described the crowd as having a “mixed reaction”.

He added: “In some of the open rehearsals we heard more booing, but there was quite a lot of cheering tonight as well and I should tell you that that song is tipped to do very well tonight.”

Press Association

[11 May 2024 22:44 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision 2023 champion Loreen appears for a dramatic performance

Loreen won the 2023 song contest for Sweden with her single “Tattoo”, and is back for a racing, techno-infused performance at the Malmo Arena.

She is tasked with handing over the Eurovision trophy to the winner when they announced.

[11 May 2024 22:40 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision fans chant 'shame on you' outside Malmo Arena as grand final unfolds

[11 May 2024 22:37 · Roisin O'Connor]

Abbatars perform at Eurovision after hosts tease performance from Swedish pop supergroup

[11 May 2024 22:30 · Roisin O'Connor]

They’ve brought out the Abbatars!

After some unacceptable rickrolling (or Alcazarring), the Abbatars from London’s purpose-built arena have been brought out for a rendition of “Waterloo”, with some help from their fellow Eurovision champions including Austria’s Conchita Wurst.

[11 May 2024 22:30 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision: Boos and ‘mixed reaction’ after Israel’s Eden Golan performs

[11 May 2024 22:20 · Roisin O'Connor]

How to vote in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 final and how the rules have changed

[11 May 2024 22:19 · Roisin O'Connor]

Eurovision fans proclaim Croatia’s Baby Lasagna favourite to win

The crowd at the Eurovision Song Contest were sent into a frenzy by Croatia’s maverick entry Baby Lasagna with his eccentric performance of his self-written song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”.

Singer-songwriter Marko Purišić, 28, who is from Umag, Croatia, and performs under the pseudonym Baby Lasagna, gained an overwhelming reaction from fans in the Malmö Arena, Sweden, who have already proclaimed him the favourite of this year’s competition.

My colleague Ellie Muir reports: