Eurovision 2021: Italy triumphs in song contest while UK’s James Newman scores nil points

Italy won the Eurovision Song Contest while the UK faced another disappointing night with James Newman scoring nil points.

Rock band Måneskin triumphed in the competition in Rotterdam with their song Zittie e Buoni, becoming the first group to win Eurovision since 2006.

But the UK’s entrant Newman scored poorly, with zero points from both the jury vote and the public vote.

It is the fifth time the UK has come last in the competition - and the second time the country has been given no points.

However, Newman took the defeat in good humour, drinking a beer and standing up to applause from the live audience in the arena.

Newman, who is the older brother of pop star John Newman, had hoped to win over viewers with his rendition of upbeat track Embers, which was inspired by the end of lockdown.

He performed in front of a crowd of 3,500 fans at the Ahoy arena.

‘Rock and roll never dies’

The UK is no stranger to the bottom of the Eurovision leaderboard and came in last place in 2019 with Michael Rice’s Bigger Than Us.

Famous fans of the contest were quick to send Newman their support.

Great British Bake Off star Matt Lucas tweeted: “We love you James Newman.”

BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker wrote: “Wowsers #NilPoints

“Well done James Newman for laughing it off.

“Only way to respond to a spectacular Europe-wide boot in the bits.”

Singer Tom Grennan wrote: “JAMES NEWMAN IS A TOP LAD.”

Drag Race star Michelle Visage said: “I am sending this tweet to James Newman and James only. You were INCREDIBLE.”

On stage after the band’s victory, Måneskin frontman Damiano David shouted into the microphone: “We just wanted to say to the whole of Europe, to the whole world, rock and roll never dies.”

The final of Eurovision was watched by an average of 7.4 million people in the UK on Saturday night, giving BBC One a 48.5% share of the audience, the corporation said.