Eurovision 2022: UK entry Sam Ryder could buck ‘nil point’ trend after odds of winning are slashed

Sam Ryder will take to the stage to present the UK with his song Space Man at Eurovision 2022, and in a surprise development he’s currently second-favourite.

The 32-year-old singer has seen his odds of winning the contest slashed by bookies as Saturday’s final approaches.

His odds are currently stacked at 8/1 for the win, a huge improvement since the 69/1 odds when the bookies first opened up their bets. 

Despite the UK’s poor Eurovision history in recent years, fans are hopeful Sam could break the trend and perform well in the competition, bucking the ‘nil point’ trend.

He found fame covering songs on the social media site during lockdown, amassing 12 million followers and catching the attention of global stars including Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys.

Sam himself admitted on Monday that he is not focused on winning the contest, and his ‘personal goal’ is to simply get up on stage and sing.

He told i newspaper: ‘My personal goal for this is to sing with the same intention that I always sing with, and then come away with the joy it has given me. 

Shock: The 32-year-old singer has seen his odds slashed by bookies as Saturday’s final approaches 

Fingers crossed! Despite the UK’s poor Eurovision history in recent years, fans are hopeful Sam could break the trend and perform well in the competition, bucking the ‘nil point’ trend

‘To make it strategic and to make it so that the happiness it gives me is dependent on where I come on a score board is something I really don’t want to mess with.’

Last year, the UK ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard after James Newman’s entry Embers scored zero points whilst Michael Rice’s 2019 entry Bigger Than Us also saw the UK finish last but Sam previously insisted that the ‘stigma’ of losing will not stop his enjoyment of taking part.

‘I love Eurovision. I think it’s such a privilege to be able to do. I don’t want to let the stigma or fear of coming at a certain place in a table stop me from doing something and being a part of something that I enjoy so much,’ he added.

Glitzy: Sam dazzled in a lavish black suit embellished with silver sequins as he danced up a storm while playing electric guitar during rehearsals

Impressive: Sam took to the stage beneath a massive metal structure, while spotlights surrounded him as he rehearsed for his epic performance

The current favourites for the contest are still Ukraine however, after they advanced to the grand final, after band Kalush Orchestra took to the stage during Thursday’s semi-final in Turin.

However, track record over the past decade has shown that the pre-empted favourites of the competition have only taken home the prize half of the time. 

This year’s Eurovision will once again see Graham Norton provide commentary duties for BBC viewers, during Saturday’s final.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 live final is on Saturday 14 May, 8pm BBC One.

Made it! The current favourites for the contest are still Ukraine however, after they advanced to the grand final, after band Kalush Orchestra took to the stage during Thursday’s semi-final in Turin