After 27 countries had performed and 40 countries had voted in the longest contest to date, bookies’ favourite Sweden emerged victorious, with Mans Zelmerlow’s aptly titled song Heroes scoring 365 points.
The UK’s entry, Electro Velvet, came 24th with five points.
For a long time, the result was too close to call, with Sweden, Russia and Italy clearly the top three.
"This is one of the most exciting results we've had in years," said the UK's commentator Graham Norton.
But the UK’s 12 points for Sweden, delivered by Nigella Lawson, seemed to turn things in their favour and they ran out clear winners in the end, making this their sixth Eurovision win.
“We are all winners, no matter where we come from”, Mans told the crowd, as 2014 winner Conchita Wurst, presented him with the Eurovision trophy.
Live from The Wiener Stadthalle Vienna, Austria, the Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its 60th competition with a “Building bridges” theme and acts from all over Europe - plus one from Australia, who were invited to take part as a special guest for the 60th celebrations.
But the presenters had to ask the 10,000-strong audience to remember the contest is about music not politics, as the runner-up, Russia, was clearly not a favourite with them, even though Europe scored them 303 points and put them second.
Australia's entry came fifth with 196 points, while the contest’s early favourite, Germany, came equal last with the hosts Austria, scoring nul points.
Click here for our Eurovision photo special, featuring all 27 contestants
