Sweden have been crowned the winners of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest for Mans Zelmerlow’s performance of Heroes.

It is the sixth time in the contest’s history that Sweden have come out on top, this time fighting off strong competition from Russia and Italy to take home the prize and be confirmed as hosts of next year’s competition. While this year’s hosts Austria didn’t manage to pick up a single point. Awkward.

Mans Zelmerlow
Mans Zelmerlow (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

The UK act Electro Velvet came away with five points for their track Still In Love With You, which saw primary school teacher and Mick Jagger tribute Alex Larke perform alongside former Voice contestant Bianca Nicholas for an electro-swing number. But let’s face it five is better than nul points.

Electro Velvet
Electro Velvet (Ronald Zak/AP)

Electro Velvet said: “Obviously it is disappointing to finish on the right hand side of the board but we have had the most amazing, brilliant, unforgettable time being part of this unique competition in this special year.

“We put our hearts and souls into representing our country and would like to thank everyone back at home and around the world that got behind us, it really means a lot and of course we also want to congratulation Sweden and Måns on their well-deserved victory!”

Australia were welcomed to the competition for the first time as special guests to mark the 60th anniversary, with Guy Sebastian, a successful musician in his home country, offering Tonight Again as the country’s debut track.

Eurovision
Guy Sebastian (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Lithuania drew praise for what appeared to be their support of gay rights by including a double same-sex kiss during their performance.

Serbia impressed with Bojana Stamenov singing Beauty Never Lies, a song penned by Charlie Mason who wrote last year’s winning song Rise Like A Phoenix for Austria’s Conchita Wurst.

Russia, Belgium and Latvia were also among the favourites and drew in the votes from across Europe, but failed to beat Sweden to the top.

Eurovision
Bojana Stamenov for Serbia (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Other notable acts included show openers Slovenia, who wore headphones throughout the performance and featured a dancer on air violin.

Voting followed the typical bloc system often seen in Eurovision, with neighbouring Balkan and former USSR countries awarding each other top points. However, many countries strayed from their traditional voting patterns to send Russia, Sweden and Italy into the lead.

While two countries received the embarrassing Eurovision score of nil points, Germany, and perhaps even more mortifying, Austria – the hosts.