UK finishes last at Eurovision again with Look Mum No Computer

Look Mum No Computer, the stage name of musician Sam Battle, finished last at Eurovision with one point.

It is the third time the UK has placed at the bottom of the table since 2020. The country has reached the top 10 only once since 2010.

Battle performed the song Eins, Zwei, Drei, stomping across the stage in a bright pink boiler suit while singing about quitting his office job to count to three in Germany. Graham Norton called the entry a big swing.

The track featured a hiccupy beat and references to jam roly poly and custard. Juries gave it one point and the public gave it none.

Adrian Bradley of the Euro Trip podcast said the BBC took a risk on a song that might not appeal to everyone. Satoshi, who represented Moldova this year, noted the British production style but added that the song was not to everyone's taste.

Battle had described the entry as Marmite before the contest, saying viewers would either love it or hate it. Italian journalist Filippo Baglini said the song was not strong enough for a country known for acts such as the Beatles.

Austrian fan Thomas Tammegger said the BBC often treats Eurovision as a joke and sends novelty acts. He pointed to Sam Ryder's second-place finish in 2022 as proof that a serious effort can succeed.

Olly Alexander placed 18th in 2024 with 46 points. He later described the experience as brutal and advised future contestants to get a good therapist.

The BBC has since turned to independent artists without major-label support. Both Look Mum No Computer and next year's act, Remember Monday, fit that description.

Other contestants in Vienna expressed surprise at the UK's reluctance to send established artists. Dara, who won the contest for Bulgaria, urged big acts to drop their prejudices and take the risk.

Finland faced similar problems after Lordi's 2006 victory. The country went 15 years without a top-10 finish. Producer Matti Myllyaho said the turnaround began when Erika Vikman appeared at the national selection show UMK in 2020 with the quirky song Cicciolina.

Finland later sent Käärijä's Cha Cha Cha to second place in 2023 and finished sixth this year. Myllyaho said the key was owning the country's eccentricity rather than chasing a win.

He suggested the UK should do the same. The BBC has already tried a quirky entry this year without success.

Fans in Vienna said the UK needs better promotion, stronger staging, a key change, and a performer who can create a viral moment. Some called for a return to established names such as Cliff Richard.