UK Confirms Look Mum No Computer as Eurovision 2026 Entry Amid Odds Concerns
The United Kingdom has officially announced its representative for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, selecting the experimental artist known as Look Mum No Computer. The decision, revealed live on BBC Radio 2's Scott Mills Breakfast Show, has sparked immediate debate as bookmakers price the entry as a significant outsider, with fears mounting that the UK could face another disappointing result.
Underdog Status and Bookmaker Predictions
According to exclusive odds provided to Metro by Paddy Power, Look Mum No Computer—real name Sam Battle—is currently listed at 30/1 to win the competition. This places the UK among the longer shots, with Finland emerging as the early favourite at 5/1, followed by Greece at 6/1. Sweden and Israel are joint third-favourites at 17/2, while Italy stands at 10/1. At the bottom of the betting, Portugal holds the longest odds at 70/1.
A spokesperson for Paddy Power commented on the situation, stating: "Hopefully it won’t be a case of Look Mum, Nul Points for the UK’s Eurovision entry this year, although at 30/1 it can’t be ruled out. Our number crunchers put Britain’s chances at somewhere between 'surprise package' and 'where did that finish?'—but we’ve seen bigger outsiders steal the spotlight before."
Artist Background and Eurovision Enthusiasm
Look Mum No Computer, based in Kent, is described as a multi-talented solo artist, live electronics performer, and composer. He began his career in 2014 as the frontman of indie rock band ZIBRA, which performed on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury. Launching his YouTube channel in 2016, he has amassed over 85 million views and 1.4 million followers across various social media platforms.
Expressing his excitement about the selection, Battle said: "I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously."
He added: "I’ve been working a long-time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process. I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear and see what we’ve created. I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesized!"
Context and Recent UK Performance
The UK has not won Eurovision since Katrina and the Waves triumphed in 1997, marking a 29-year drought. In recent years, the best result was Sam Ryder's second-place finish with "Space Man" in 2023, hosted in Liverpool. Last year, girl group Remember Monday finished 19th with their song "What the Hell Just Happened?"
The 2026 contest is set to take place in Vienna this May, though it has been marred by controversy. Several countries, including Ireland and Spain, have withdrawn following the European Broadcasting Union's decision to maintain Israel's involvement. Additionally, last year's winner Nemo, representing Switzerland, has returned their trophy in protest.
Complete Eurovision 2026 Odds List
Here are the full odds provided by Paddy Power for Eurovision 2026:
- Finland – 5/1
- Greece – 6/1
- Sweden – 17/2
- Israel – 17/2
- Italy – 10/1
- Denmark – 11/1
- France – 14/1
- Bulgaria – 14/1
- Ukraine – 19/1
- Malta – 22/1
- Switzerland – 25/1
- Poland – 25/1
- Estonia – 25/1
- Austria – 25/1
- Lithuania – 25/1
- Cyprus – 25/1
- Luxembourg – 25/1
- Czech Republic – 30/1
- Norway – 30/1
- United Kingdom – 30/1
- Croatia – 33/1
- Belgium – 35/1
- Armenia – 35/1
- Australia – 35/1
- Latvia – 40/1
- Moldova – 40/1
- Georgia – 40/1
- Azerbaijan – 40/1
- Serbia – 50/1
- Romania – 50/1
- Germany – 50/1
- Albania – 66/1
- San Marino – 66/1
- Montenegro – 66/1
- Portugal – 70/1
