Israel pipped at the post in Eurovision thriller as UK gets one point

Israel came within touching distance of a dramatic Eurovision Song Contest victory on Saturday evening, before Bulgaria snatched the crown in the final moments, while the UK finished last with one point.

Israeli entrant Noam Bettan spent the closing minutes of the public voting sequence in first place during the 70th edition of the song contest in Vienna, Austria, before Bulgaria’s Dara surged ahead with Bangaranga, securing her country’s first win with 516 points.

Israel finished second on 343 points, ahead of Romania’s Alexandra Capitanescu in third with 296 points.

Bettan, 28, performed Michelle in English, Hebrew and French, to a mixed reception inside Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, where chants and boos could be heard among crowds also waving Israeli flags and banners.

Meanwhile, the UK suffered another Eurovision humiliation, with Lincolnshire-born Look Mum No Computer finishing last in the 2026 grand final with a single point.

It marks the fourth consecutive year Britain has received no points from the public vote, with the UK’s only point awarded by Ukraine’s jury.

Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle, performed his “song” Eins, Zwei, Drei while dancing with performers dressed as computers.

The YouTube creator wore a pink boiler suit as dancers in fluffy headwear performed in a mock workshop around him while he played a synthesiser, ending the performance inside a cardboard box.

At one point Battle tried to encourage audience participation, in the style of former X Factor rapper Honey G, chanting: “When I say eins, you say zwei.”

The UK awarded its 12 jury points to France, with Bulgaria receiving 10 points, Czechia eight and Ukraine seven.

Dara’s victory means next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

The final followed protests in Vienna over Israel’s inclusion in the contest. Earlier in the week, Bettan was booed during his semi-final performance, while demonstrations organised by pro-Palestinian groups took place across the Austrian capital.