Italy wins Eurovision 2021 as pop-rock band Maneskin bring down the house

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The Italian band Maneskin leaped for joy as they triumphed at the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands tonight – while Britain’s James Newman finished bottom of the leaderboard with zero points. 

The pop-rock group, who won with scored 524 points in the grand final, beamed with excitement as they waved to the crowds and were confirmed as this year’s 2021 winners at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena in the Netherlands tonight.

Gold glitter rained from the ceiling as the group climbed back on stage to lift the trophy and they were invited to perform their winning song Zitti E Buoni in front of excited crowds once more.  

The scenes of celebration came after the UK’s Eurovision hopeful James Newman, who donned a stylish striped leather jacket as he sang his song Embers in front of the 3,500 fans at the arena, tonight smiled to the crowds after receiving zero points from the public vote.

The BRIT award singer had been given odds of just 200/1 by Betfair to win the 65th annual Eurovision Song Contest. 

But the artist did not let the poor odds deter him as he performed his lively track in front of a sea of excited Eurovision fans earlier tonight.

Prior to his performance, host Graham Norton, who is once again anchoring the contest on BBC One, encouraged fans ‘to raise a glass to Sir Terry Wogan, who was and always will be the voice of Eurovision’.  

Newman, who is the older brother of pop star John Newman, had been ready to perform the ballad My Last Breath at the 2020 contest before it was cancelled due to the pandemic. 

The song contest kicked off tonight with a performance from Cyprus’ Elena Tsagrinou who sang her dance song El Diablo in a glamorous dress that featured silver sequins.

The performance came after crowds of Eurovision fans waved their flags in the air and beamed with excitement as they flocked to the venue in the Netherlands ahead of the upcoming final and prepared to watch the nations competing for the trophy. 

Scores of jubilant fans descended upon the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, in Rotterdam, as they geared up for the highly-anticipated contest.   

After more than a week of rehearsals, two semi-finals and 53,000 Covid tests for fans, staff and performers, the Eurovision Song Contest that was cancelled last year because of the pandemic went live tonight in front of 3,500 fans and a global television audience.    

This year’s theme is ‘Open Up’, and the Dutch government-backed coronavirus restrictions could be a model for events like Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics as the world slowly emerges from lockdown. 

The scenes of celebration come after Eurovision Song Contest bosses banned alcohol from being consumed at the upcoming final in Rotterdam.  

Speaking outside the arena, one fan, Saskia Scharree, 51, said: ‘I think it’s the beginning of a new start. When something as big as this happens in Holland, you’re going to join in.’ 

Meanwhile Finnish fan Oona Sainio, 27, said she and her family had come to soak up the atmosphere despite not having tickets.

She said: ‘We’re big Eurovision fans and we wanted to be close to the action.’  

The run-up has been dominated by coronavirus scares, with Iceland’s hotly-tipped entry Dadi og Gagnamagnid ruled out of performing live when a band member tested positive for Covid.

Dutch 2019 winner Duncan Laurence meanwhile is also unable to perform his new song live in tonight’s final after coming down with symptoms of the disease during rehearsals this week. 

Now, the favourite among bookmakers is Italy’s Maneskin with their song Zitti e Buoni but their vote could be split by the similarly heavy metal sounds of Finland’s Blind Channel with their song Dark Side. 

French chanteuse Barbara Pravi is also hoping to end her country’s 44-year losing streak with her song ‘Voila’. 

Speaking outside the area, Milo Mateo, from the Italian band Maneskin, said: ‘If we win, it will be very, very nice, because the next year will be in Italy. That’s very good. Let’s hope. Fingers crossed.’   

Ahead of their performance Victoria de Angelis of Italian group Maneskin also said the contest should send ‘a message of hope for the rest of Europe’.

This week, the UK’s Eurovision 2021 hopeful James Newman looked on form as he rehearsed for the second of two semi-final shows for the song contest.

The BRIT award winner, 35, was full of confidence as he belted out his track Embers while working the stage during the first dress rehearsal show at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena. 

Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said of his chances: ‘Brit hopeful James Newman has gone from 125/1 to 200/1 to win the Eurovision Song Contest following some strong semi-final performances, meaning victory for the United Kingdom looks out of reach for another year.’ 

At the 2019 contest the UK came in last place with Michael Rice’s Bigger Than Us, continuing a run of poor results, while the Netherlands came top with Duncan Laurence’s Arcade. 

Those in charge of the highly-anticipated event in the Netherlands have taken the decision to prohibit drinking at all hotels and venues taking part in this year’s competition.  

According to reports, organisers felt that allowing drinking would risk spreading the disease, and could impact strict social distancing measures that are in place. 

A source in Rotterdam told The Sun: ‘The decision to ban alcohol has gone down like a lead balloon. There were already strict social-distancing measures in place. Having a drink was at least one enjoyable part of being out here – but now that’s gone too. 

‘Lots of the artists are absolutely furious that this has happened. They don’t believe the virus incident in the Icelandic team had anything to do with alcohol being consumed.’ 

The decision has reportedly sparked anger among some performers, with the Russian team making a complaint. 

Before the decision, contestants and staff could drink alcohol at designated venues and hotels until midnight. 

This week, Iceland’s Daði og Gagnamagnið star Daði Freyr admitted that his group, one of the favourites to win the competition, were ‘disappointed’ after being forced to pull out of the competition after a member tested positive for Covid-19.

Speaking on Friday’s episode of Lorraine, the musician, 28, said that they are trying to ‘make the best’ of the situation as they remain in the hotel.

It came after 2019 Eurovision Song Contest winner Duncan Laurence tested positive for coronavirus and will also be unable to perform live at Saturday’s grand final in Rotterdam.

Daði explained their decision not to perform without their sixth member Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson, who tested positive, as it ‘doesn’t really work’.

He said: ‘The song is written for the band as a six member thing and the performance, the song is written for the performance, one member missing doesn’t really work.’