The country that has the worst Eurovision track record might surprise you (Picture: PA)
With the Eurovision Song Contest now underway, fans want to know who is favourite to win the iconic competition. Others, meanwhile, are wondering which country has come last in Eurovision the most times.
All eyes will be on Olly Alexander’s Eurovision entry on Saturday night, in the hope that he can recreate the success of Sam Ryder, who won the UK second place with his epic song Space Man in the 2022 contest.
Despite suffering a wardrobe malfunction at the semi-final, Years & Years singer Olly is guaranteed a spot in the final, because the UK is one of the Eurovision Big Five.
Meanwhile, Ireland broke a losing streak after qualifying for Eurovision’s grand finale for the first time in six years with their entry Bambie Thug.
Bambie Thug’s performance has won Ireland a spot in the Eurovision final (Picture: Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)
Though the Eurovision Song Contest started with just seven countries in 1956, it’s grown to include 37.
But which nation has been the least successful?
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Which country has finished last the most at Eurovision?
This may come as a shock, but Norway is the country which has come last the most throughout Eurovision’s history.
Norway has finished bottom of the table 11 times in total and has even scored nul points on four occasions.
Most recently, Norway appeared in last place in 2012 with their entry ‘Stay’ by Tooji (but we’ll forgive you if you don’t remember that performance).
Since making its debut in the contest in 1960, Norway has also come in last place in 1963, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1990, 1997, 2001 and 2004.
But it isn’t all bad news, as the Scandinavian country has also won the contest three times and scored the biggest victory ever in 2009, winning by a huge margin.
How many times has the UK finished last in Eurovision?
The UK has finished last in Eurovision a total of four times.
These were in 2008 with Andy Abraham (14 points), in 2010 with Josh Dubovie (10 points), in 2019 with Michael Rice (11 points), and in 2021 with James Newman (0 points).
Last year, UK entry Mae Muller narrowly missed coming bottom of the table, placing 25th out of 26 in the Grand Final.
UK Eurovision fans are hoping Olly Alexander will score better than last year’s entry (Picture: AP)
The UK’s Eurovision performance was considerably better in the 20th Century, having won the contest a total of five times.
The UK topped the table in 1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1997.
Eurovision final odds 2024
Bookmakers currently put Croatia as the favourite to win Eurovision 2024, with most giving the nation even odds.
Behind Croatia, the favourites are Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The odds aren’t looking so great for the UK, unfortunately, which is currently hovering around 11th place with odds of 90/1, according to gambling company Paddy Power.
The Eurovision Grand Final airs on Saturday 11 May.