Eurovision's UK act Remember Monday dealt huge blow ahead of final following fan hopes of rare UK victory
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Eurovision's UK act Remember Monday have been dealt an unfortunate blow just hours ahead of Saturday night's grand final.
The country pop band, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, left fans impressed with their performance during the semi-finals.
Theories began flying that they might take home the trophy at the 69th iteration of the annual contest in Basel, Switzerland - which would be the UK's first win since 1997.
Despite their high-energy routine, it appears the odds are not in their favour as they are more likely to finish in last place than first, according to Ladbrokes.
In a crushing blow to their chances of success, they have been ranked at just 66/1 to take home the trophy by bookies, with nine other countries soaring ahead of them.
Their odds of coming in last place are much closer at just 3/1, while the chance of them scoring 'nul points' has been ranked at 12/1.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: 'Remember Monday need nothing short of a miracle to cause an upset in Switzerland tonight, if the latest odds are anything to go by.'
The UK last finished triumphant in the contest 27 years ago with the victory of Katrina and the Waves in 1997, with their track Love Shine A Light.
Remember Monday have fallen far behind Sweden and Austria, who are both the bookies' leading favourites to win the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden have been the favourite since late February and moved to odds-on for a record eighth Eurovision triumph last month with dance-pop trio KAJ.
Their entry single, Bara Bada Bastu is the group's first chart-topper, and the first song sung in Swedish entered by Sweden since 1998.
However, a groundswell of support for Pop-Opera soprano Johannes 'JJ' Pietsch has seen Austria come in from 3/1, and Sweden drift to 10/11.
Despite Austria's finishing position of 24th last year, JJ seems to have captured the hearts of fans, and the country has now been bestowed 11/4 odds.
The 24-year old's entrant song Wasted Love has gained traction for its artistry, 'beautiful vocals' and 'captivating performance' according to fans.
'It's looked like Sweden's contest to lose for a long time, but this odds shift is making people think again,' Carl Gildart of Ladbrokes said.
'Those who phone in to vote for Austria will be hoping their support isn't wasted love.'
France is coming up third place in the betting, with pop-ballad soloist, Louane, going from 10/1 to 9/1.
The Netherlands follow closely behind, with 12/1 odds on their 21-year-old pop star representative Claude.
The country faced disqualification from the competition last year when Joost Klein was banned from the grand finale hours before it took place on account of 'threatening behaviour' towards a female camera operator.
Israel's odds are at 25/1 amid controversy surrounding their involvement in the contest this year. Over 70 former Eurovision contestants have signed a letter demanding Israel's expulsion from the event.
The letter addresses the pro-Palestine protests that arose from the inclusion of their entrant Eden Golan last year, suggesting that it became the most 'politicised, chaotic and unpleasant' show in the competition's history.
