The UKs Eurovision entry, Remember Monday, managed to avoid nul point humiliation, but failed to win the illustrious song contest title, as Austria stormed to narrow victory in what has been one of the most politically charged song contests ever.
Millions of viewers across Europe tuned in to see who would take home the crown, as blank emerged victorious in tonight’s Eurovision grand final following two semi-final shows earlier this week.
Hampshire-based girl group Remember Monday took to the St Jakobshalle arena stage to represent the UK, performing their song What the Hell Just Happened, and yet despite a high energy performance the odds were not in their favour.
Prior to tonight’s show, the group were already dealt a disappointing blow as bookmakers predicted the band, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, had a 66/1 chance of winning the coveted title.
Viewers at home were left impressed by their ‘unbelievable vocals’ praising the trio’s performance, as one viewer wrote: ‘Oh girls. you smashed it. That was stunning and your joy on that stage was infectious. So loved it. You’re our winners.
Yet despite theories flying around that the group, who first gained prominence on the Voice, could take home the 69th Eurovision Song Contest Trophy, for the first time since 1997, was not meant to be, receiving zero points in the public vote.
Elsewhere fans were left disappointed as speculation Titanic songstress, Celine Dion, would make an appearance but never materialised on stage. Outside the arena pro-Palestine demonstrators clashed with riot police, who pepper sprayed them.
Sophie Ellis-Bexter, announced Britain’s scores from Switzerland, shortly after it was announced she was replacing Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa as the United Kingdom’s Eurovision spokesperson for 2025.
It comes as speculation was rife following Ncuti Gatwa withdrawal from Eurovision hosting duties with the BBC announcement being made just two minutes after Israel qualified for tomorrow night’s final.
Gatwa has previously been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photographs of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his Instagram and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes.
The reason for Gatwa’s last minute withdrawal from his hosting duties was not made clear, aside from the BBC’s initial ‘unforeseen circumstances’ message, but fans speculated Israel’s qualification was the cause.
Ms Ellis-Bextor, 46, has since stepped in for Gatwa, telling fans: ‘I love Eurovision and it’s a privilege to be part of 2025’s Grand Final. What an honour it is to announce the UK’s jury score on such a special show which always puts music front and centre.
‘I am very much looking forward to delivering the iconic douze points from the United Kingdom!’
The BBC said it had ‘nothing more to add’ on its original statement. Gatwa was approached for comment.
It comes as three have been arrested after trying to storm the stage during October 7 survivor, Yuval Raphae’s performance on the Eurovision stage, as pro-Palestine protesters clash with Swiss riot cops as the show went on.
The politically charged contest is the first major music event Yuval Raphael had attended since the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, where she hid under dead bodies for eight hours as Hamas terrorists attacked.
According to SRG SSR, there were also two separate bids made by a man and a woman to rush onto the stage both stopped by security. A crew member had also been hit with paint during the incident, but, nobody was injured.
A SRG SSR spokesman said: ‘At the end of the Israeli performance a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.
‘They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.’
Youth Demand have since claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that three of their supporters had been ‘forcibly removed’ and detained by armed police after their attempt to storm the stage.
Of the three arrested, two have named themselves as Meaghan Leon, 27, from London, David Curry, 22, from Manchester of Youth Demand.
Mr Curry said: ‘After dropping the equivalent of six Hiroshomas’ worth of bombs on Gaza, Israel has been blockading all food, water and key medical aid from entering Gaza for over three months now.
‘Israel is being armed and aided by UK and European governments, whilst they murder a child every 45 minutes. To top it off, here we are having a party with them on the biggest stage of them all!’
Ms Leon released a statement, which read: ‘I cannot not sit back and watch Europe throw a party with the genocidal state of Israel in attendance, especially after Russia was rightfully kicked out for their aggression towards the Ukrainian people. Do Palestinians not deserve the same consideration?
‘We need to end all arms sales to Israel. Across the continent and in the UK, all polls show this is what the people want, yet our leaders ignore us. We need to upgrade our democracies and we need a House of the People.’
During her performance, Raphael appeared to have been ‘booed’ and ‘jeered’ during her Eurovision performance tonight.
The Hamas massacre survivor is said to have received a ‘slightly mixed reception’, according to commentator, Graham Norton, as video emerged online which appeared to show Raphael being booed and jeered from members of the standing audience.
Speculation has since arisen among viewers at home that the audio was edited, as they believe broadcasters had tampered with the sound to drown out any booing while the October 7 survivor performed New Day Will Rise at the grand final.
‘Definitely edited the boos,’ one Eurovision fan wrote on X, while another said of Graham Norton’s commentary: ‘All we heard at home was overwhelming applause…clearly they have edited out all the booing.’
The EBU has since denied any claims of booing during Israel’s performance, saying: ‘We heard no booing during Yuval’s performance tonight and we have had no reports of booing either. The atmosphere stayed positive and celebratory throughout!’
In a statement to the Independent, the Swiss broadcaster SRG SRR said: ‘For the Eurovision Song Contest, the host broadcaster SRG SSR is working with the “audio sweetening” method, which is common practice for major international productions.
It comes amid fury over Israel’s participation in the competition as Nova Music Festival survivor, Yuval Raphael, received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision.
‘This process helps to harmonise the sound of the transitions between moderations, video clips and the individual acts and to create a consistent soundscape for the TV audience.
‘It is used exclusively for the technical rounding off of the programme,” they continued. This process is used equally and identically for all acts. The competition and its results are not affected in any way.’
Earlier today, Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Eurovision to demand an end to Israel’s participation in the popular song contest as the country’s contestant continues to weather a barrage of hate
Droves of protesters flocked to Barfüsserplatz in the heart of the Swiss city, which is hosting this year’s Eurovision contest, as one protester is seen with blood smeared across her face and a prop, which is said to represent a body bag.
Later this evening, a scuffle broke out amid the marching in a final-clash as the grand final continued at St Jakobshalle arena tonight.
Ahead of tonight’s much anticipated grand final, crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read ‘boycott Israel apartheid’ and ‘no stage for genocide’, as they waved flags and released flares into the sky.
It comes amid fury over Israel’s participation in the competition as Nova Music Festival survivor, Yuval Raphael, qualified for the show’s grand final earlier this week.
Around 4,000 musicians, artist and music industry pros from five Nordic countries signed an open letter denouncing the Middle Eastern country’s entry in the 69th Eurovision song contest in Basel.
Those who signed the statement, including some previous Eurovision winners, dubbed Israel’s involvement in the competition as a bid to ‘whitewash and divert attention’ from the Israel’s bombardment on Gaza.
It argued that Israel ‘should not have the opportunity to polish its public image on the Eurovision stage and thus use this to cover up and continue its human rights violations.’
Elsewhere broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel’s involvement. Last week, 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition.
Yuval Raphael survived the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.
That fateful day saw the militant group kill 1,200 people, with over 250 taken hostage. It in turn sparked a huge Israeli military offensive on the Gaza strip, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
More than 53,000 people have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of the besieged territory, with all aid blocked from entering Gaza since March.
It comes after Raphael, who is set to perform New Day WIll Rise, was on the receiving end of loud boos and jeers earlier this week as she qualified for the Eurovision’s grand final.
On Thursday, her preview show was interrupted by six pro-Palestinian demonstrators carrying flags. Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed but there are limits on size, and so the audience members were quickly ejected from the venue.
Later on, footage from the TV broadcast semi-final showed the Israeli entry being booed once again by some sections of the audience, with the jeers more audible on social media footage.
However, the October 7 survivor said her team were preparing for a hostile reception from the audience by rehearsing with background sounds.
‘I think I’m expecting it [booing],’ she told the BBC: ‘But we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.
‘Everybody has opinions. I’m really putting everything aside and just concentrating on the most important thing. The slogan this year is ‘united by music’ and that’s what we are here for.’
Last week, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition.
They appealed to organisers to ban Israel and its national broadcaster from the contest over the country’s ‘genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.’
It added: ‘By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is normalising and whitewashing its crimes.’
The signatories included former winners Charlie McGettigan, Salvador Sobral and Fernando Tordo.
On Sunday, during the Eurovision opening parade in the Swiss host city of Basel, the Israeli broadcasting delegation made a complaint to the police and the EBU after accusing a pro-Palestinian demonstrator of making a throat-slitting gesture and spitting at the delegation.
Raphael said: ‘It was scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I’m here and my agenda, which is spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country.’
Despite the ongoing tension, her song is currently among the favourites to win, according to bookmakers.
Today in the Swiss capital, ESCALATE for Palestine, took to the streets to voice their frustration over Israel’s participation in the popular song contest.
According to RTE, the group first gathered in Barfüsserplatz, where there is an area for a public Eurovision screening set up for this evening, before marching through the city.
A large police presence is in place at the demonstration, as chants of ‘free free Palestine’ echoed through the streets.
It was a stark contrast to a previous silent march held on Wednesday in Basel, where protesters openly voiced their views on the unfolding situation in Gaza.
Elsewhere in Dublin, thousands took to the streets in support of Palestine in a march organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), as they demanded an end to what they called a ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
Despite calls for Israel to be banned from the competition, they have managed to succeed to the final and are among bookies favourites to win.
In previous years, other countries have been banned from the contest. Belarus was suspended in 2021 after submitting an overtly political entry and a year later Russia was barred over the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this month Irish national broadcaster RTÉ asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion.
Director General Kevin Bakhurst, said he was ‘appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages’.
Eurovision director Martin Green said organised understood ‘the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East’, but that members should ensure the event remains a ‘universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music’.