It’s been 27 years since Italy last won the Eurovision Song Contest, but Francesco Gabbani's Occidentali's Karma could reward the nation with its first gong in almost three decades.
Meanwhile, the developments of Brexit appear to have done anything but boost the United Kingdom’s chances of clinching this year’s sing-off, and What Are The Odds provides the latest on who looks likely to vie for the 2017 crown with just a month to go until this year’s showdown.
Gabbani has the advantage of having already advanced to the competition’s final in Kiev, Ukraine on May 13, and after impressing at the national finals, he’s now a clear 11/8 (2.38) favourite to hand Italy their third Eurovision triumph a whopping 53 years after Gigliola Cinquetti brought the country its first.
Bulgarian entrant Kristian Kostov is second in the odds at 5/1 (6.00) but will have to qualify from the competition’s second semi-final on May 11 with his anthem, Beautiful Mess, before even taking his place in the main event.
The United Kingdom, on the other hand, don’t look likely to challenge for the top prize in 2017 despite former X-Factor contestant Lucie Jones taking her place as the nation’s nominee. The Welsh songstress has been installed as a 40/1 (41.00) shot for Eurovision 2017, but after Great Britain’s departure from the European Union, political opinion could have its effect on how many votes go in favour of the UK.
Sweden remain dark horses as Romania rise
Sweden, on the other hand, have only waited two years since last winning the Eurovision, and 2017 representative Robin Bengtsson is a low-priced 7/1 (8.00) to land his nation a third continental win in the space of five years.
He’ll sing I Can’t Go On in the first semi-final come May 9, but he’ll be hoping to do anything but as he bids to make it through to the Kiev final and improve Scandinavia’s already impressive record in the competition in recent years. Along with Sweden’s victories in 2012 and 2015, Denmark also blazed a path to glory in 2013.
Along with Romania, Portugal will make their return to Eurovision after an absence in 2016, and entrant Salvador Sobral is tipped to do well at 10/1 (11.00), just ahead of 16/1 (17.00) Australian artist and dark horse Isaiah.
Romania, Russia and Armenia may hold value and are tied at 18/1 (19.00) with a little more than a month to go until the competition takes place, with the former among that trio holding a special appeal.
As the name suggests,Yodel It! will see Ilinca and Alex Florea hammer out a novelty song of Eurovision proportions, the former yodelling the chorus while Florea picks up the verse.
What could possibly go wrong?
Eurovision 2017 odds leaders
Italy: 11/8 (2.38)
Bulgaria: 5/1 (6.00)
Sweden: 7/1 (8.00)
Belgium: 8/1 (9.00)
Portugal: 10/1 (11.00)
Australia: 16/1 (17.00)
Armenia: 18/1 (19.00)
Romania: 18/1 (19.00)
Russia: 18/1 (19.00)
Azerbaijan: 20/1 (21.00)
United Kingdom: 40/1 (41.00)
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