GB News presenter Nigel Farage gave his response to the UK achieving second place at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, saying "I think what it tells you is that Europe likes us again! That Brexit means we're actually getting on better."
More than eight million people in the UK tuned in to watch Sam Ryder’s Eurovision performance on Saturday.
Sam Ryder.
Dominic Lipinski
The British hopeful delighted fans at home by topping the national jury vote with 283 points, beating favourites Spain and Sweden, in the country’s best result in 20 years.
Nigel Farage
GB News
Nigel reflected on his disappoint in previous years of the competition but was surprised by Saturday's outcome: "I have to say, I thought at one time of maybe seriously proposing we withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest but actually this year's entry has come second."
Ryder, a 32-year-old TikTok star, won over the audience with his uplifting pop song Space Man and wore a dazzling one-piece suit encrusted with beads and pearls.
Nigel said discussed the politics of the contest: "I've been enraged over the years as we've come 24th in 2015, 24th in 2016, always coming last knowing the rest of the continent, in what is a political contest in terms of voting, they hate us. It's because of Brexit."
This year’s competition was won by Ukraine’s folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra with their song Stefania.
In response to Ukraine's win, Nigel said he "nearly had put a big bet on them but thought the price was a bit short."
"This may well reflect well on Sam Ryder and his song but I think what it tells you is that Europe likes us again! That Brexit means we're actually getting on better. It's over and done and we're getting on better with our European neighbours better than we were before," said Nigel.