Smooth Eurovision performance for Olly Alexander after semi-final malfunction

It was smooth-sailing for the UK’s Olly Alexander during the Eurovision Song Contest final after the singer spoke of having a wardrobe malfunction at the first semi-final on Tuesday.

The Years and Years star, 33, was number 13 in Saturday night’s running order at the Malmo Arena with the song Dizzy.

His performance, which featured upside-down dressing room staging and cameras rotating to give a spinning feel to Alexander and the dancers, went smoothly after his mic pack fell off earlier in the week.

Following the performance, Alexander told BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills programme: “I did have a slight wardrobe malfunction in that my mic pack fell off in the second chorus, so I was confused and stressed by that.”

Speaking after Alexander’s performance in the final, Graham Norton, who was leading coverage on BBC One, said: “Wow what a great job.”

Norton said there was clapping in the commentary booth, adding: “Oh, the reaction in the arena is sensational, if only they could vote! Maybe they will later.”

He continued: “That is terrific, we don’t know how it will do because it is so different to everything else in the contest tonight.”

Alexander shared the voting numbers for his performance before taking to the stage.

On social media, he said: “Here’s all the voting numbers for Dizzy if you feel so inclined to vote for me! Thank u !! don’t forget i love u all.”

It comes as demonstrators gathered outside the venue in Malmo ahead of the event, calling for a boycott of the competition due to the participation of Israel’s Eden Golan.

They shouted “free Palestine” and “shame” to those attending.

Alexander, along with Ireland’s entry, Bambie Thug, and other Eurovision artists released a joint statement in March backing “an immediate and lasting ceasefire” in Gaza but refused to boycott the event.