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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Corey Bedford

Eurovision star Sam Ryder gets hero's welcome as he lands back in UK

Sam Ryder has been given a hero's welcome after landing in London following his incredible second place finish in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The 32-year-old's performance of Space Man beat Spain and Sweden to achieve a monumental second place in the competition with with 466 points, only defeated by Ukraine's eye-watering 631 points. This was the best result that the UK has had in the competition in 20 years, with Sam earning 12 points from countries such as France, Germany, and Belgium.

The results were so good that "what is happening?" began trending on Twitter in the United Kingdom, with viewers across the country stunned at the UK being at the top of the results table after the judge's votes were announced.

READ MORE: Eurovision fans row as Sam Ryder 'robbed' of victory

The UK's incredible second-place result is to Sam Ryder and his team, with the song impressing both the judges and the public, and the musician has spoken of the support and love he has received from the Eurovision community, the Birmingham Mail reports.

He told BBC Radio 2 today: "I felt so much, just encouragement and support and love from home. And not just home, but in the Eurovision community in general, because there's so much love, sitting in that arena is like being in a church, it is just incredible.

"I can't explain it, and I can't even begin to do it justice, the feeling that you have when you're there. But going on that stage, it just felt like, just trust in everything." He added: "Trust in the years that you've been singing and enjoying singing and music and take it all in.

"We were sat there in the green room and absolutely engulfed in the energy of that arena, it was like being in a church because there was so much joy. I'm sitting there with my friends who are also my team and that's just so lucky. I've just been swept up in the joy that is Eurovision, I'm just so excited."

Ryder landed at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday wearing a pink Kalush Orchestra hat - a nod to the winning act from Ukraine.

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