Eurovision 2021 odds: UK chances, betting tips for song contest final – and favourites to win including Italy

Bookies currently think the UK won’t quite get ‘nul points’ – but with odds of a British triumph at 500/1, a win looks far from likely
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The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rotterdam this weekend (22 May), but organisers have said the usual format will be “impossible” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 65th edition of Eurovision was one of the first high-profile cancellations of the pandemic, with the 41 acts scheduled to compete eventually featuring in a non-competitive virtual show on the weekend the final would have taken place.

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This year, acts who can travel to Rotterdam will perform live on stage, while those unable to will submit recorded performances.

(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Iceland (Photos: Getty Images)(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Iceland (Photos: Getty Images)
(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Iceland (Photos: Getty Images)

But just who will walk away with the coveted crown? Who is the UK’s entrant? And will they be able to avoid hearing the dreaded phrase, “nul points”?

Here is everything you need to know about it.

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When is Eurovision 2021? Final date and time, who is the UK entrant, winner odds...

Who is the UK’s entrant?

(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Switzerland (Photos: Getty Images)(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Switzerland (Photos: Getty Images)
(Clockwise from top left) Current favourites to win this year's competition include Italy, France, Malta, Ukraine, and Switzerland (Photos: Getty Images)

Singer-songwriter James Newman has said he is “excited and honoured” to represent the UK in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

Newman is the older brother of pop star John Newman, and had been set to appear at last year’s contest before it was cancelled.

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He had been ready to perform the track ‘My Last Breath’ at the 2020 contest, but had to write a new entry after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the 2020 songs would not be eligible for this year’s show.

Newman has revealed the new song he is taking to the Contest in 2021 is titled ‘Embers’, a dance track the singer has described as a "banger" and "full of positivity".

"’Embers’ is about those sparks that don't die out," he told Radio 1 Newsbeat. "When we were writing this, it felt like I wanted to show everyone that we were coming back together.

Unlike his original Eurovision effort – a ballad – ‘Embers’ is more of an upbeat affair, and is a “celebration of music… hopefully people like it."

Will the UK win?

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The last time the UK won Eurovision was in 1997, with Katrina And The Waves’ ‘Love Shine A Light’, and the UK has not finished in the top 10 since 2009.

In recent year, BBC bosses scrapped the public vote and teamed up with record label BMG to choose the artist instead, in the hopes a higher calibre of talent could be found..

Following the initial announcement of Newman’s representation, he was billed as the UK’s great hope after years of Eurovision Song Contest disappointment.

Unlike many recent UK entries, the 35-year old is a proven hit-maker, and has helped write chart smashes like the Brit Award-winning ‘Waiting All Night’, performed by Rudimental and Ella Eyre.

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He also wrote ‘Lay It All On Me’, performed by Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran, and ‘Blame’, performed by Calvin Harris and featuring Newman’s younger brother.

Despite the online enthusiasm surrounding his new song, and his hopes as the saviour of UK Eurovision shame, he is not expected to win the Contest, with most bookmakers listing him with odds of around 500/1.

Who will win?

Ireland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry Lesley Roy missed out on qualifying for the final of the competition.

The singer-songwriter had delivered an energetic performance of her song ‘Maps’ live in Rotterdam as the competition returned for a semi-final following last year’s cancellation.

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Norway, Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Sweden, Belgium, and Ukraine made it through to Saturday’s final.

At the second semi-final, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Portugal all did enough to get through; they were joined by Iceland, San Marino, Switzerland, Greece, and Finland and will all take part in Saturday’s final in Rotterdam.

According to OddsChecker, Italy is currently considered the top favourite to clinch the prize, with odds of around 12/5 from most bookmakers.

Other countries that could do well include France (7/2), Malta (37/5), Switzerland (8/1), and Ukraine (9/1).

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It’s bad news for Eurovision fans in Albania, Germany, Moldova, Spain, and Belgium – the ‘best’ odds of winning the comparison site could find for those countries is 999/1.

The full list of odds (according to Oddschecker on 21 May) is as follows:

Country Best odds
Italy 12/5
France 7/2
Malta 37/5
Switzerland 8/1
Ukraine 9/1
Iceland 14/1
Finland 33/1
San Marino 50/1
Portugal 59/1
Lithuania 80/1
Bulgaria 94/1
Sweden 100/1
Cyprus 129/1
Norway 249/1
Serbia 269/1
Greece 279/1
Russia 299/1
Azerbaijan 299/1
Israel 300/1
Netherlands 500/1
United Kingdom 500/1
Spain 999/1
Albania 999/1
Germany 999/1
Moldova 999/1
Belgium 999/1

How can I watch it?

The final of the competition, which is being held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, will air on BBC One on 22 May at 8pm in a special programme hosted by Graham Norton.

It will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in a programme hosted by Ken Bruce.

A message from the editor:

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