The UK had its strongest Eurovision performance in eight years as Portugal won it for the first time
Portugal has won its first Eurovision Song Contest for Salvador Sobral’s performance of Amar Pelos Dois.
Salvador was crowned winner during a tense finale in Kiev, Ukraine, marking the first time Portugal has finished inside the top five in 53 years of taking part.
Meanwhile the UK achieved its highest points haul in eight years with former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones receiving 111 for her performance of Never Give Up On You.
Speaking after his win, Salvador – who has fought ill health to take part in the competition – dedicated his triumph to 'music that means something'.
He said: “We live in a world of disposable music, fast food music without content and I think this can be a victory for music that means something.
“Music is not fireworks, music is feeling… bring music back which is what matters.”
He was then joined for a duet by his sister as he took to the stage for the winner’s performance at the Kiev International Exhibition Centre
In second place were Bulgaria while Moldova finished third. Last year’s victors, Ukraine, finished in 23rd place.
Welsh-born Lucie came 15th after receiving solid scores from a number of countries including 12 from Australia.
Graham Norton, guided UK viewers through the contest on BBC1, and described Jones’ performance as 'stunning', adding: “It has to be one of our strongest entrants in years.”
The UK’s last win came in 1997 from the Katrina Leskanich-fronted Katrina And The Waves, who said Jones 'absolutely smashed it' in a post on Twitter.
Earlier in the show, security guards had to pull a streaker from the stage during a performance by last year’s winner Jamala.
The stage invader, wrapped in an Australian flag, sneaked on to the stage pulled down his shorts and wiggled his bottom at the cameras during the brief escapade.
