'Crown the witch': Bambie Thug backed for Eurovision success

Bambie Thug is now the fifth likeliest winner of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest according to bookies, BoyleSports.

It's after the Cork native became Ireland’s first act since 2018 to reach the final last night with Doomsday Blue.

They are now just 10/1 to claim Ireland’s first win in the iconic contest since Eimear Quinn took the stage by storm in Oslo in 1996. 

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said:

“Bambie Thug stole the show in Malmo on Tuesday night and Irish fans will be chanting ‘Crown the Witch’ on Saturday as confidence grows that our long run of Eurovision flops could finally be over.”

Croatia have also seen their odds cut into 11/10 from 11/8 after Baby Lasagna’s eye-catching performance of Rim Tim Tagi Dim in Tuesday night’s semi-final and remain hot favourites to scoop their first Eurovision trophy.

Olly Alexander took to the stage after Bambie Thug’s showstopping performance last night but punters have put his chances of ending the United Kingdom’s Eurovision drought on ice. The It’s A Sin star is now rated a huge outsider at 80/1 to be crowned champion on Saturday having been a one-time 6/1 favourite.

The odds look to be stacked against Israel as debate around boycotting the competition over their participation continues to rage on. 

They remain 33/1 outsiders amid further drama at Tuesday night’s semi-final, when Bambie Thug was ordered by the European Broadcasting Union to change a pro-Palestine message spelled out in Ogham in their make-up.