Douze points for the Scousers. Yes, the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 grand final was a triumph for host city Liverpool, who hosted the event on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
After a nail-bitingly tight ending comes the Swedish dance-pop diva Loreen won the coveted crystal microphone with her soaring anthem Tattoo. After her victory with Euphoria in 2012, Loreen became only the second act in Eurovision history to win twice (after Ireland's Johnny Logan, fact fans). Unfortunately, the British Mae Muller was less lucky, finished in 25th place – a chastening second from below. “Not the outcome we were hoping for,” she tweeted with masterful understatement.
It was a frenzied over-the-top audiovisual spectacle but during the epic four-hour broadcast, it was easy to blink and miss things. Here's a handy look back at 10 lighter moments you might have missed:
1. Mel Giedroyc churning butter
Graham Norton had a hectic evening, swinging between his usual post in the BBC commentary booth and his duties on stage. When he wasn't behind the microphone, Mel Giedroyc added her gently sarcastic observations (“Wowsers McTrousers!” was a notable gem).
She caught viewers off guard by appearing in the background of one link, dressed as a Polish milkmaid (Giedroyc is of Polish descent) and suggestively churning butter – a nod to the 2014 Polish entry Donatan & Cleo. It reduced Norton to hysteria and recalled the quiet days of her sodden innuendos in the Bake Off tent.