THE Eurovision Song Contest is fast approaching with talented musicians all hoping to be crowned the winner.
With 31 countries set to compete in the live semi-finals (May 9), here are the bookie's current favourite to win.
Who is the favourite to win Eurovision 2023?
Swedish singer Loreen is the current favourite to win Eurovision 2023 with odds of 10/11 by Betfair.
The 39-year-old star has returned for a second shot at the competition after winning the contest in Baku in 2012, with her dance-pop anthem Euphoria.
Loreen will compete with her new track called Tattoo which was written by the same team behind Euphoria.
Finland sits in second place with odds of 11/5 for their act, rapper and singer Kaarija.
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Kaarija will perform his track Cha Cha Cha.
Third place goes to France for their entry La Zarra and her song Evidemment with 6/1 odds.
Who won Eurovision 2022?
Ukraine was crowned Eurovision Song Contest Champions 2022 after receiving a huge amount of support from the European public.
Kalush Orchestra was the favourite to win after Vladimir Putin's invasion – which prompted organisers to ban Russia and Belarus from competing.
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The band's song, 'Stefania,' was written as a tribute to the frontman's mother, but has transformed since Russia's invasion on February 24 into a war anthem.
The lyrics 'I'll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,' written by frontman Oleh Psiuk, are believed to have taken a special meaning because of the war.
The band received special permission to leave the country to represent Ukraine.
Who are the past Eurovision winners?
Since it began running in 1956, the Eurovision song contest has seen 67 winners from across the globe come together to sing their hearts out.
The winners in the last ten years are:
- 2013 Emmelie de Forest – Only Teardrops (Denmark)
- 2014 Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix (Austria)
- 2015 Mans Zelmerlow – Heroes (Sweden)
- 2016 Jamala – 1944 (Ukraine)
- 2017 Salvador Sobral – Amar Pelos Dois (Portugal)
- 2018 Netta – Toy (Israel)
- 2019 Duncan Laurence – Arcade (Netherlands)
- 2020 – Cancelled due to Covid-19
- 2021 Måneskin – Zitti e Buoni (Italy)
- 2022 Kalush Orchestra – Stefania (Ukraine)
Has the UK ever won Eurovision?
The UK last won Eurovision more than two decades ago in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves.
They have won the contest five times in total since it began in 1956.
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