Eurovision's BSL interpreter steals the show with 'iconic' and 'brilliant' performance as fans beg for her to represent UK next year: 'I didn't realise sign language could be so graphic…'

Austria may have taken the crown during Saturday’s Eurovision final.

However, it seems that many British viewers’ favourite performance of the night wasn’t even in the running to win the singing competition in Basel, Switzerland.

Fans have gone wild for the BBC’s British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter after her enthusiastic and ‘iconic’ performance during the Finland entry went viral online.

Despite Finland’s Erika Vikman pulling out all the stops with her very raunchy and energetic rendition of her song ICH KOMME, viewers found their attention stolen by Clare Edwards.

Clad in a sparkly purple dress, the interpreter stood in the corner of the screen to transcribe the song into sign language for viewers with hearing difficulties.

And she didn’t hold back from getting into the song, seamlessly interpreting the lyrics and throwing herself into the movement.

While Austria took the crown during Saturday’s Eurovision final in Basel, Switzerland, it seems that many British viewers’ had a different winning performance of the night

Fans have gone wild for the BBC’s British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter after her enthusiastic and ‘iconic’ performance during the Finland entry went viral online (pictured)

Despite Finland’s Erika Vikman pulling out all the stops with her very raunchy and energetic rendition of her song ICH KOMME, viewers found their attention stolen by Clare Edwards

Fans soon began sharing clips of her ‘brilliant’ performance online, calling it the ‘best’ of the night and begging for Clare to be the winner or the UK’s entrant for next year’s competition.

They praised: ‘The @BBCEurovision @Eurovision Song Contest BSL British Sign Language Interpreter, Clare Edwards @Purple_Terp, absolutely vibing and serving KANT like a pro. What a legend. Give that woman her own gig!’

‘The BSL lady’s gonna win isn’t she.’; ‘Winners of Eurovision has to @BBCiPlayer Clare Edwards and friends doing the BSL. Its brilliant’.

‘Give that woman her own slot!’; ‘The BSL lady is having way too much fun!’; ‘The BSL during Finland was incredible’; ‘Iconic, simply iconic’.

‘The best bits of this evening’s Eurovision Song Contest was the BSL woman. She’s brilliant’; ‘Living her best life!’; ‘I accidentally tuned in on the BSL option from Malta onwards. Absolutely brilliant.’

‘I love how they’re in glittery gear too! I wish I’d watched it with the signers on, looks far more entertaining that the actual show!’; ‘Can we just give a shout out to the #BSL interpreters on BBC iPlayer for #Eurovision already serving’.

‘She’s absolutely amazing!! She’s kept me captivated and I haven’t been listening to the songs. Brilliant for deaf fans to be able to experience’; ‘Shout out to the #BSL crew on @BBCiPlayer Brilliant!’

‘To watch the Eurovision or any concert when the BSL is activated is the best thing ever! The interpreters do a stellar work conveying the emotions and vibes to our deaf community!’

Clad in a sparkly purple dress, the interpreter stood in the corner of the screen to transcribe the song into sign language for viewers with hearing difficulties

Fans soon began sharing clips of her 'brilliant' performance online, calling it the 'best' of the night and begging for Clare to be the winner or the UK's entrant for next year's competition

‘There should be a separate BSL Eurovision’; ‘The best thing about watching #Eurovision is watching the @BBC #BSL signers interpreting the songs. Brilliant. Well done ladies’.

‘We got to send Clare Edwards (the fab BSL Interpreter) (@Purple_Terp) to represent the #UnitedKingdom in next year’s #EurovisionSongContest.’; ‘Better than the actual song and performance!’

‘Needs a show of her own’; ‘BBC Eurovision…the BSL sign language interpreters are amazing…worth the licence fee for their performance alone! Bravo!’; ‘She’s getting right into it’

‘Great signers are fabulous performers in their own right, a combination of dancer and storyteller. She is really giving her all, wonderful. Am content to watch this without sound!’

‘I’m in hysterics here. I didn’t realise sign language could be quite so… graphic.’; ”It’s been brilliant throughout- loving the interpretations’; ‘Having the time of her life!’

In one of the most politically charged Eurovision song contests ever, Austria stormed to victory, while Israel – whose performance was blighted by protests – took second place.

Millions of viewers across Europe tuned in to see who would take home the crown, as Austria’s JJ emerged victorious in Saturday night’s grand final following two semi-final shows earlier this week.

Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 massacre in 2023, was the runner-up with New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English. But the singer was left ‘shaken and upset’ after two pro-Palestine protesters rushed towards her during her performance.

In one of the most politically charged Eurovision song contests ever, Austria (seen) stormed to victory, while Israel – whose performance was blighted by protests – took second place

The Hamas massacre survivor (seen) is said to have received a ‘slightly mixed reception’, according to commentator, Graham Norton

Meanwhile, organisers confirmed that a crew member backstage was hit with paint but was not injured.

Eurovision 2025 result

Austria, JJ – 436
Israel, Yuval Raphael – 357
Estonia, Tommy Cash – 356
Sweden, KAJ – 321
Italy, Lucio Corsi – 256
Greece, Klavdia – 231
France, Louane – 230
Albania, Shkodra Elektronike – 218
Ukraine, Ziferblat – 218
Switzerland, Zoë Më – 214
Finland, Erika Vikman – 196
Netherlands, Claude – 175
Latvia, Tautumeitas – 158
Poland, Justyna Steczkowska – 156
Germany, Abor & Tynna – 151
Lithuania, Katarsis – 96
Malta, Miriana Conte – 91
Norway, Kyle Alessandro – 89
UK, Remember Monday – 88
Armenia, PARG – 72
Portugal, NAPA – 50
Luxembourg, Laura Thorn – 47
Denmark, Sissal – 47
Spain, Melody – 37
Iceland, VÆB – 33
San Marino, Gabry Ponte – 27

Riot police also had to use pepper spray to restrain activists during pro-Palestine protests outside the arena, while Israel and US flags were set alight.

While the UK managed to rack up 88 points from the professional jury, it was yet another snub from the European voting public, receiving zero points for the second year in a row.

Remember Monday, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, represented the UK with their song ‘What The Hell Just Happened?

Although the rest of Europe wasn’t convinced by Remember Monday, viewers at home were impressed by their ‘unbelievable vocals’.

It was down the wire until the very last minute as Israel leapt into pole position with 357 points.

Every other country faltered in nabbing the number one spot when it came to the public vote but Austria emerged victorious.

The countertenor JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, took to the stage to proudly lift his well-earned trophy while performing his winning song Wasted Love.

Earlier in the night, fans were left disappointed as speculation Titanic songstress, Celine Dion, would make an appearance failed to materialised on stage.

Sophie Ellis-Bexter, announced Britain’s scores from Switzerland, shortly after it was revealed she would be replacing Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa as the United Kingdom’s Eurovision spokesperson for 2025.

It comes as speculation was rife following Ncuti’s withdrawal from Eurovision hosting duties, with the BBC announcement being made just two minutes after Israel qualified for the final.

Remember Monday , made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, represented the UK with their song ‘What The Hell Just Happened?

The actor has previously been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photographs of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his Instagram and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes.

The reason for Ncuti’s last minute withdrawal from his hosting duties was not made clear, aside from the BBC’s initial ‘unforeseen circumstances’ message, but fans speculated Israel’s qualification was the cause.

It comes amid fury over Israel’s participation in the competition as Yuval received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision.

On Friday, Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Eurovision to demand an end to Israel’s participation in the popular song contest as the country’s contestant continued to weather a barrage of hate.

During her performance, Yuval appeared to have been ‘booed’ and ‘jeered’ during her Eurovision performance, with commentator Graham Norton saying the Hamas massacre survivor received a ‘slightly mixed reception’.

Speculation also rose among viewers at home that the audio was edited, as they believed broadcasters had tampered with the sound to drown out any booing while the October 7 survivor performed New Day Will Rise at the grand final.

‘Definitely edited the boos,’ one Eurovision fan wrote on X, while another said of Graham Norton’s commentary: ‘All we heard at home was overwhelming applause…clearly they have edited out all the booing.’

The EBU denied any claims of booing during Israel’s performance, saying: ‘We heard no booing during Yuval’s performance tonight and we have had no reports of booing either. The atmosphere stayed positive and celebratory throughout!’

It comes amid fury over Israel's participation in the competition as Yuval received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision (pictured)

Ahead of the much anticipated grand final, crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read ‘boycott Israel apartheid’ and ‘no stage for genocide’, as they waved flags and released flares into the sky

In a statement to the Independent, the Swiss broadcaster SRG SRR said: ‘For the Eurovision Song Contest, the host broadcaster SRG SSR is working with the ‘audio sweetening’ method, which is common practice for major international productions.

‘This process helps to harmonise the sound of the transitions between moderations, video clips and the individual acts and to create a consistent soundscape for the TV audience.

‘It is used exclusively for the technical rounding off of the programme,’ they continued. This process is used equally and identically for all acts. The competition and its results are not affected in any way.’

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Eurovision’s BSL interpreter steals the show with ‘iconic’ and ‘brilliant’ performance as fans beg for her to represent UK next year: ‘I didn’t realise sign language could be so graphic…’

Eurovision 2025 result