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Sweden has won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with singer Loreen making history as the first woman to win more than once after first taking the crown back in 2012.

The 39-year-old’s win for dance-pop anthem Tattoo also means Sweden has drawn level with Ireland for the country with the most Eurovision wins – seven apiece.

Finland's Kaarija sings Cha Cha Cha
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Finland’s Kaarija sings Cha Cha Cha

Finland were the runners up with quirky singer Kaarija’s hyper-pop-rap tune Cha Cha Cha.

The 29-year-old Finn had been a popular act in the build up to the grand final, arriving in his own customised sauna van and posing up a storm on the red carpet in his trademark neon green sleeves-only puffer jacket and bowl haircut.

Israel’s entry, sung by Noa Kirel and which featured the most energetic dance routine of the night, came third.

UK’s act, Mae Muller, who sang I Wrote A Song, came a disappointing second to last in the competition.

It will be a blow to the 25-year-old from north London, who had been widely tipped to make it into the top 10 with her catchy pop track, especially after the UK’s success in the contest last year.

While Ukrainian duo Tvorchi sang their entry, Heart Of Steel, their university home town Ternopil came under fire from Russian missiles.

Their entry came sixth on the leaderboard.

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Ukraine’s Tvorchi sang Heart Of Steel

The night also had a surprise up its sleeve, with the Princess of Wales giving a pre-recorded piano performance in the opening of the show.

Other guest appearances in the show included last year’s Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder performing Mountain with Queen legend Roger Taylor accompanying him on the drums, Liverpool songstress Sonia and Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus giving advice to future Eurovision winners.

And of course, Eurovision isn’t just about winning, it’s about something much bigger. This year more than ever, the contest was proof of music’s power to unite.

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Mae Muller sang I Wrote A Song

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Ukraine’s Tvorchi on Eurovision, the war, and their message for Russia

The first time two countries have jointly hosted Eurovision, Liverpool put on the event on behalf of Ukraine, because the war-torn nation was unable to do so.

Eleven Ukrainian artists performed in the ceremony itself, with Ukrainian motifs and the Ukrainian identity playing a central role throughout the night.

However, there was controversy ahead of the competition, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was banned from making an address at the grand final.

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Last year’s UK entry, Sam Ryder performed

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to ban his appearance “disappointing“.

The EBU, a group of national public broadcasters that produce Eurovision, said they feared his message would “politicise” the contest.

Despite the ban, inevitably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was referenced by other performers during the night.

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Kalush Orchestra performing Voices Of A New Generation
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Croatia’s Let 3 singing anti-war song Mama SC!

Nods to the ongoing war included the Ukrainian act Tvorchi whose song Heart Of Steel was inspired by the siege of Mariupol, Croatia’s Let 3 who performed anti-war song Mama SC! in front of giant nuclear warheads and Czechia’s Vesna singing part of their song My Sister’s Crown in Ukrainian.

A powerful opening performance by Kalush Orchestra performing Voices Of A New Generation followed by their winning hit Stefania – a song that has become an unofficial anthem for Ukraine since the start of the war – also bought a sharp focus to the night’s proceedings.

In more light-hearted fare, Eurovision’s love of novelty acts shone through with some real corkers on offer this year.

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Austria’s Teya & Salena singing Who The Hell Is Edgar?
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Australia’s Voyager rocking out as he sings Promise

One of the most talked about acts of the night – Austria’s We Need To Talk About Edgar Allen Poe – opened the competition, with singers Teya and Salena channelling the ghost of the literary great to take a swipe at music streamers.

And while not all of the wackier performances saw their ingenuity rewarded on the leaderboard, acts that particularly got the auditorium buzzing included Germany’s pop-metal act Lord Of The Lost singing Blood And Glitter; Australia’s Voyager belting out Promise while rocking out on the bonnet of a vintage Toyota MR2 and Croatia’s Let 3 stripping off to their pants and vests mid-way through Mama SC!

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While it may all be over for another year, fans of the world’s most-watched live non-sporting event will already be getting excited over next year’s performance in Sweden.

Pros in the field of putting on a Eurovision grand final – it will be the country’s third time on hosting duty in the last 12 years.

But many will surely be wondering if the shadow of the war in Ukraine will still hang so heavy over the show this time next year.

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Don’t sing along to Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, fans warned

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Don't sing along to Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, fans warned

Movie fans are being warned they must not sing along to music in the new Wicked film.

The movie, which features British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo and American star Ariana Grande, will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 22 November.

However, according to an advisory video shown moments before the film in the US, AMC Theatres tells the audience “silence is golden” and fans should stay quiet so everyone can “enjoy the magic of movies”.

It urges people not to talk or text, adding “no singing, no wailing, no flirting, and absolutely no name calling”.

Ryan Noonan, an AMC spokesman, told IndyStar: “The Wicked pre-show spot incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show.”

Some fans have posted on social media saying they may find it difficult to resist joining in with the songs in the film, which is an interpretation of the hit Broadway and West End musical.

Cast members Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo attend a premiere for the film "Wicked" in London, Britain, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Mina Kim TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the movie’s premiere in London on Monday. Pic: Reuters

Part one of Wicked will be released on Friday, followed by part two in November 2025.

The movies explore the friendship between Elphaba, played by Erivo, and Glinda, portrayed by Grande, before they become estranged.

The characters come from the classic Oz stories by American author L Frank Baum – a series which also includes The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz.

In Baum’s works, Elphaba is known as the Wicked Witch Of The West and Glinda as the Good Witch Of The South.

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‘Amazing singers’: Wicked’s London premiere

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Earlier this week, the stars of the movie attended the London premiere at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.

Jon M Chu, the film’s director, channelled the Emerald City of Oz in a forest green velvet suit jacket with a black bow tie and trousers, finishing the look with a pair of silver infinity glasses.

Erivo and Grande took inspiration from the original musical production, opting for black and yellow outfits respectively.

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Paul Mescal bluntly appraises his meeting with the King at Gladiator II premiere

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Paul Mescal bluntly appraises his meeting with the King at Gladiator II premiere

Irish actor Paul Mescal says meeting King Charles was not on his “list of priorities”.

The 28-year-old star was introduced to the reigning monarch at the Gladiator II world premiere in London last week.

The historical epic picks up 20 years after the Oscar-winning original, and marks Mescal‘s first big studio movie after success in TV and independent film, playing Roman warrior Lucius Verus.

King Charles greeted the Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington at the premiere in London.
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The King greets the film’s stars at the world premiere

Talking about his brush with royalty on the red carpet, Mescal told US outlet Variety he did not see it coming.

Speaking at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Mescal said: “How wild is it? It’s definitely not something that I thought was in the bingo cards.

“I’m Irish, so it’s not on the list of priorities”.

He then swiftly turned the answer to the film’s 86-year-old director, Ridley Scott, saying: “It’s an amazing thing for Ridley because I know how important that is for him.

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“So, to see his film celebrated in that context was pretty special.”

Ahead of the premiere, both Mescal and Scott had enjoyed a champagne reception at Buckingham Palace, and so were already in a celebratory mood on their arrival.

Due to the large number of people at the event, Mescal admitted it was also hard to hear what was being said during his exchange with the King, so he was “nodding along and smiling”.

Pic: Paramount Pictures
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Pic: Paramount Pictures

The world premiere was held in aid of the Film and TV Charity, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and marked the first premiere Charles attended as King.

The King also met with Mescal’s co-stars including Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Narcos actor Pedro Pascal.

Other celebrities to attend included actor Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Reviews of the film have been mixed thanks to its more-is-more attitude to CGI and OTT storylines, but there is broad agreement that audiences will leave the cinema somewhat entertained.

Paul Mescal and director Ridley Scott on the set of Gladiator II. Pic: Paramount Pictures
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Mescal and Scott on set. Pic: Paramount Pictures

Speaking to Sky News at the London event, Mescal said being part of the movie was a “wildly… overwhelming” experience“.

Sir Ridley – who cast Mescal in the role after a brief Zoom chat with the actor – told Sky News his reason for choosing him was that he saw aspects of “a young Albert Finney” in him.

The original Gladiator starred Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Australian actor does not return for the sequel.

Joaquin Phoenix also had a starring role in the first film, which Scott later admitted he nearly walked out of.

Both Mescal and Scott have teased that they would both be up for a third film.

Gladiator II is in cinemas now.

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Zoe Ball to leave her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show – and will be replaced by Scott Mills

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Zoe Ball to leave her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show - and will be replaced by Scott Mills

Zoe Ball is leaving her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after six years.

The 53-year-old, who recently lost her mother to cancer, will present her last show on Friday, 20 December.

BBC Radio 2 presenters Zoe Ball and Scott Mills leaving Wogan House.
Pic: PA
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Ball leaves Wogan House with her replacement, Scott Mills. Pic: PA

She said she was leaving to focus on family, but will remain part of the Radio 2 team and will give further details next year.

Announcing the news on her Tuesday show, she said: “After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.

“You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?

“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”

Scott Mills will replace Ball on the breakfast show following her departure next month.

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“Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1,” he said.

“She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.”

Hugging outside the BBC building on the day of the announcement, Ball said she was “really chuffed for my mate and really excited about it”.

Ball was the first female host of both the BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, starting at the Radio 1 breakfast show in 1998, and taking over her current Radio 2 role from Chris Evans in 2020 after he left the show.

She took a break from hosting her show over the summer, returning in September.

Ahead of her stint in radio, Ball – who is the daughter of children’s presenter Johnny Ball – co-hosted the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine show Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.

She has two children, Woody and Nelly, with her ex-husband, DJ and musician Norman Cook, known professionally as Fatboy Slim.

Ball said in her announcement her last show towards the end of December will be “just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans”.

“While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year,” she added.

“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!”

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”

Mills, 51, got his first presenting role aged just 16 for a local station in Hampshire, and went on to present in Bristol and Manchester, before joining BBC Radio 1 in 1998.

He got his first permanent role on Radio 2 in 2022, replacing Steve Wright, after previously working as a cover presenter on the station.

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