Sweden wins the Eurovision contest with Heroes

Sweden has won the Eurovision Song Contest.

The winning performance of Heroes by Måns Zelmerlöw received the highest number of points in one of the tightest contests in the annual singing competition, held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria.

Accepting the award from last year's victor Conchita Wurst, the overwhelmed Swedish entrant said: "I have so much to say right now. I am so extremely happy. I want to thank all of you for supporting me. I just want to say we are all heroes, no matter who we are, who we love and what we believe in."

His winning performance incorporated elaborate visual effects and projections and the song won over the European audience.

Typically the contest, which is widely mocked for its outlandish performances and inane songs, was still the focus of ridicule on social media.

This time it was the UK entry that was the butt of the jokes, with British viewers offering their apologies to their fellow Europeans for Electro Velvet's shockingly bad performance.

Representing the UK, double act Alex Larke and Bianca Nicholas performed a bizarre electro-swing track called Still In Love With You. The over-the-top performance involved electric violins, illuminated dresses and backing dancers in a Charleston-inspired routine.

Nicholas, who has cystic fibrosis, was a former The Voice UK contestant, while Larke is as a primary school teacher who moonlights as Mick Jagger in Rolling Stones tribute act The Rolling Clones.

While their participation in the contest might be considered a personal triumph, the reaction of the British public was less than sympathetic.

Viewer Rogan Devlin tweeted: 'Wow! On behalf of the UK I apologise to the rest of Europe for that... #Eurovision.'

Another user wrote: 'This is the point where Simon Cowell would hold his hand up and ask what else they've brought with them.'

Honestly, and you wonder why World Wars happen! #Eurovision2015" declared another.

Recognising the plight of the British entry Graham Norton, presenting the coverage for the BBC, told viewers "we're not above begging' for votes."

Electro Velvet walked away with only five points. The UK has failed to produce a winner in two decades.

The contest, which celebrates its 60<sup>th anniversary, also had its usual share of memorable contestants.

Spanish entry Edurne Garcia, the 29-year-old girlfriend of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea gave a raunchy performance of the song Amanecer.

The Makemakes, representing last year's winners and hosts of the contest Austria, gave an explosive performance that featured a burning piano.

Last year's winner Conchita Wurst also performed tracks from her new album. Describing her experience returning to the competition a year after her landmark win, Wurst said: "This is overwhelming. To be able to perform here for a third time. Thank you to all of you. It's a beautiful moment for me."

Commenting on the theme of the contest of "Building Bridges" as music overpowers politics she added: "It's a beautiful message from Eurovision to the world. Everybody is allowed to come as they are. They are allowed to do their performance the way they want it."

While the Swedish entrant went off to celebrate his win, the person apaprently most happy to be part of the spectacle was an unknown percussionist, who became the unwitting star of the show.

The drummer was captured on camera beaming broadly as he enthusiastically played.

His picture quickly circulated on social media with viewers commenting on his unbridled joy at being part of the music contest.

"I want whatever he's having," said one Twitter user. Another said: "I don't think anyone enjoyed Eurovision as much as this guy!"

The Eurovision song contest has a cult following in Australia, which led to the special anniversary invitation to mark six generations of the show.