If you needed an excuse to break out the booze this weekend, Eurovision is back on our TV screens.
This year, the 64th Eurovision song contest will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel and will air in the UK on Saturday night.
Love it or hate it, Eurovision has captured the hearts of millions over the years – inspiring parties and drunken get-togethers dedicated to the annual TV marathon.
Championing the UK is 21-year-old Michael Rice, who will be hoping to turn the tide on our country’s historically disappointing performance.
To celebrate the return of one of the wackiest shows on TV, we take a look back at some of Eurovision’s past winners:
(2018) Netta Barzilai, Israel
Singer Netta Barzilai stormed to victory last year with the song Toy, which was already hugely popular before the competition aired.
Although Israel is in a different continent, the Israel Broadcasting Agency (IBA) is part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), so are qualified to participate.
(2017) Salvador Sobral, Portugal
It was a first time win for Portugal in 2017 when Salvador Sobral won the hearts of voters with Amar Pelos Dois.
Since his win, Salvador has been working on his own music. In March 2019, he released his album, Paris, Lisboa.
(2016) Jamala, Ukraine
Securing the trophy for Ukraine in 2017 was singer Jamala, with her politically charged song 1944.
The winning song was based around the deportation of Crimean Tatars by Josef Stalin, and was interpreted as a criticism of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
(2015) Mans Zelmerlöw, Sweden
Mans Zelmerlöw represented Sweden in 2015 with the song Heroes’ gaining a total of 365 points.
In 2016, Mans returned to Eurovision to co-host the show in Stockholm, Sweden.
He has released a total of seven studio albums, the most recent being Chameleon in 2016.
(2014) Conchita Wurst, Austria
Austrian singer Conchita Wurst made history by becoming the first drag Queen to win Eurovision with her song Rise Like a Phoenix, earning him the moniker of “bearded lady.”
Since winning Eurovision, Conchita – real name Thomas Neuwirth – has expressed a desire to abandon his alter ego.
“I feel like I want to create a new person…without the bearded lady,” he told German newspaper Die Welt.
(2013) Emmelie de Forest, Denmark
It was a win for Denmark in 2013 when Emmelie de Forest wowed the crowds with a rendition of her song Only Teardrops, earning 281 points.
In 2017, she participated in the British national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 as a songwriter for the song Never Give Up On You, performed by Lucie Jones.
(2011) Ell and Nikki, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan celebrated their first Eurovision win in 2011 with the song Running Scared, performed by duo Ell and Nikki (Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal).
Although Jamal represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision contest, she lives in Enfield, North London.
(2010) Lena, Germany
Lena took the Eurovision crown home for Germany in 2010 with Satellite’ marking the country’s first win in three decades.
The then-19-year-old singer even had a fan in German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said she was a “wonderful example of young Germany.”
(2009) Alexander Rybak, Norway
Singer and composer Alexander Rybak won the Eurovision Song Contest title for his home country of Norway with song Fairytale.
He claimed victory with 287 points – the highest tally any country has achieved in the history of Eurovision under the old voting system.
Alexander tried his hand at Eurovision again in 2018, making it to the finals but finishing in 15th place.
