Another Eurovision disaster for UK

12:15am Sunday 27th May 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Engelbert Humperdinck performs during the final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest (AP/Sergey Ponomarev) Engelbert Humperdinck performs during the final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest (AP/Sergey Ponomarev)

The UK's hopes of breaking its Eurovision curse came crashing down when veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck scraped into last-but-one place in this year's contest.

He opened the show in Baku, Azerbaijan, with ballad Love Will Set You Free - but seemed to have been forgotten by the time voting started, 25 songs later.

Not even a lucky necklace given to him by Elvis Presley could help Humperdinck, who scored points from only Belgium, Estonia, Latvia and Ireland and ended up languishing near the bottom of the leader board.

The singer, nicknamed The Hump, scored a total of 12 - ending up just one position above Norway, famous for gaining "nul points" in the annual competition.

The contest was won by Swedish singer Loreen with dance track Euphoria. She had been the bookies' favourite and romped home with a landmark victory, scoring 372 points. Speaking after the win, she said: "I want to say that I love you so much. Thank you for believing in me."

Popular act Buranovskiye Babushki - the six strong group of pensioners nicknamed The Russian Grannies - came second with Party for Everyone and were notable for performing with a revolving oven on the stage.

Speaking after his performance, Humperdinck said: "I had a great time, a very wonderful time. I hope everyone listening to the song... we shared the song with every generation. I sang it from my heart."

Humperdinck's song was written by Sacha Skarbek - who teamed up with James Blunt to compose You're Beautiful - and record producer Martin Terefe. There was a UK link to another act as jazz musician Jamie Cullum wrote the German entry, Standing Still.

Comments(4)

Say It As It Is OK? says...
7:54am Sun 27 May 12

Everyone (who dared say it) predicted the UK would be close to the bottom. For a start the song was awful and the Hump has passed his sell-by date. This competition ran its course many years ago and should be abolished. Also, I don't see any reason why we should compete in a competition where the same countries vote for each other every year, no matter what and the BBC could save some of our license fee money by pulling out altogether and, if the competition continues, leave it to them.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
7:55am Sun 27 May 12

Everyone (who dared say it) predicted the UK would be close to the bottom. For a start the song was awful and the Hump has passed his sell-by date. This competition ran its course many years ago and should be abolished. Also, I don't see any reason why we should compete in a competition where the same countries vote for each other every year, no matter what and the BBC could save some of our license fee money by pulling out altogether and, if the competition continues, leave it to them.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
7:57am Sun 27 May 12

Everyone (who dared say it) predicted the UK would be close to the bottom. For a start the song was awful and the Hump has passed his sell-by date. This competition ran its course many years ago and should be abolished. Also, I don't see any reason why we should compete in a competition where the same countries vote for each other every year, no matter what and the BBC could save some of our license fee money by pulling out altogether and, if the competition continues, leave it to them.

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ponderman says...
5:42pm Sun 27 May 12

Turn it in you parrot.

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