The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is set to take place tonight, but who is going to win?
The competition is set to take place in just a few hours in Malmö, Sweden, and excitement is building as 160 million viewers are expected to be watching from home.
However, the show is currently in crisis mode as it has just been announced that The Netherlands’ entrant Joost Klein will not perform in the Grand Final.
It was reported that an ‘incident’ occurred involving the performer making a ‘threatening movement’, and has since been axed from the competition.
It was also announced that protests outside of the stadium are gaining momentum as pressure mounts for execs to exclude Israel from the competition.
Amid all this drama and change, the odds for winners have been shifting and the competition is all to play for.
With a line-up of stellar acts, Eurovision will be a tough competition, so who will win and who should win?
Let’s take a look at a bookie’s prediction…
Eurovision 2024 favourite to win revealed
The hot favourite to be crowned Eurovision Song Contest 2024 winner is Croatia with their act, the brilliantly named, Baby Lasagna with their song Rim Tim Tagi Dim (4/5).
Ladbrokes predicted that Israel’s act is the second most popular to win with odds of 5/2. Their participation is controversial but fans have loved the performance from Eden Golan singing Hurricane.
Coming in hot at third most popular is Switzerland’s Nemo and song The Code (4/1). France has odds of 16/1 with Slimane singing the song Mon Amour.
Ireland is set to be fifth most likely to win (16/1) with the act Bambie Thug performing Doomsday Blue. Ukraine is pulling in at sixth with odds of 20/1 and Italy is in seventh with odds of 33/1.
It is bad news for the UK, with Ladbrokes giving Olly Alexander a 150/1 odds of winning compared to 6/1 odds of finishing last.
The UK is not Ladbrokes’ least likely act to win, though. If you were a betting person, it would be best not to root for the likes of Serbia (500/1), Lativa (500/1), Portugal (400/1) or Luxembourg (400/1).
If Baby Lasagna does win the Eurovision, it will be the first time Croatia has won since joining the competition in 1993.
To date, the best placing for Croatia is fourth, which it achieved in 1996 and 1999.
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 odds
Croatia – 4/5
Israel – 5/2
Switzerland – 4/1
France -16/1
Ireland – 16/1
Ukraine – 20/1
Italy – 33/1
Austria – 150/1
Cyprus – 150/1
Finland – 150/1
Georgia -150/1
Greece – 150/1
UK – 150/1
Armenia – 200/1
Estonia – 200/1
Lithuania – 200/1
Norwat – 200/1
Spain – 200/1
Sweden – 200/1
Germany -300/1
Slovenia – 300/1
Luxembourg – 400/1
Portugal – 400/1
Latvia – 500/1
Serbia – 500/1
Who should win Eurovision 2024?
Eurovision fans had already decided that this year’s ‘underdog’ deserves to be crowned champion.
They might not be the bookie’s favourite but Ireland’s Bambie Thug, who is non-binary, stole the show at the semi-final with their spelling-binding rendition of their song Doomsday Blue.
The performance – which had everything – saw the singer dressed like a witch with horns on their head, scream to the heavens and be twirled by a dancer wearing devil-inspired prosthetics.
But don’t just take out word for it.
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Bambie Thug also set social media alive, with X user exclaiming: @axolotl2023: ‘This was the most original performance we EVER had in the whole history of #Eurovision and im dead serious about it, im so speechless THIS NEEDS TO WIN! #Ireland #CrownTheWitch #BambieThug #getoutofrafah #Eurovision #Eurovision2024.’
Agreeing, @Mika_ljm stated: ‘This just screams winner all over. They went from being an underdog to a likely top 10/top 5 result in the final! Congrats Ireland & Bambie Thug, you were amazing. And now… #CrownTheWitch in the final!’
@PatrickMooney also said: ‘Oh what a night. To witness Bambie Thug qualifying live in the arena was incredible. Well done SVT on a stunning show. The Witch has been Crowned! #Eurovision.’
Metro.co.uk recently had the chance to speak to the artist, as they expressed their pride in having the opportunity to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
‘I’m an independent artist and other than this I would have never been put in front of so many people, so soon, unsigned or anything, so that’s incredible,’ they said.
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‘I think it’s a feat in itself to get there, and for us to be in the top 10 after my country not being in the top 10 or in the final for 10 years, and even just for the alt scene, and the queer scene and goths, it’s great that we’re there.
‘Seeing that the doors are opening for more not-so-Normcore music is really encouraging, and I’ve gotten a lot of love since being involved and people finding my art, finding my old songs and it’s been a good boost because it is hard grinding this plane independently so I’m proud of myself regardless.’
Who would you like to win?
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The Grand Final airs on Saturday, May 11, at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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