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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Rose Hill & Kate McMullin

Graham Norton makes sly dig at Madonna during Eurovision 2019

Graham Norton made a sly dig at Madonna last night - after the pop legend arrived at the Eurovision Song Contest in an interesting outfit.

The 60-year-old pop star is known for her elaborate style and she stayed true to form by donning a pirate-like eyepatch. 

And witty Eurovision host Graham just couldn't help himself, getting in a little dig at the singer, with a joke aimed at her outfit.

The host said: "Madonna, what a trooper, still showing up despite a nasty case of conjunctivitis.

"What a showbiz professional."

The singer's appearance on the show was confirmed just days before the grand final.

Before performing the Just Like A Prayer singer appeared to hit back at criticism for her reasons for coming on the show.

She said: "The one thing that brings me here is the power of music, never underestimate the power of music."

She added: "I'm bringing the heat tonight!"

Madonna before her performance on Eurovision (BBC)

The Mirror reported how organisers of the contest had said earlier this week that the pop diva had not yet signed a contract and that she could not perform without one.

However she was spotted arriving in Israel on Tuesday and was rumoured to be rehearsing in a secret location.

The Mirror confirmed on Thursday  that she would be performing and had brought a a 135-strong entourage with her.

During her set she performed two songs - her 1989 hit Like A Prayer and her new single Future with US rapper Quavo.

Madonna before her performance on Eurovision (BBC)

And as she sang fans questioned whether Madonna was secretly trolling her hosts with two dancers wearing Israeli and Palestinian flags.

Full list of Eurovision Song Contest 2019 results and where did the UK finish?  

Some fans had threatened to boycott this year's Eurovision in protest of Israel's treatment of Palestinian.

Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands won the Eurovision song contest 2019 after a nail-biting finish in Tel Aviv.

(AP)

But while the bookies' favourite stole the trophy from judges' favourite North Macedonia with his song Arcade, many British Eurovision fans' hearts went out to Michael Rice.

The British entrant got just three points from the public vote. Despite a bit more support from the judges, the UK finished last overall.

The BBC's commentator Graham Norton said  Michael, a Craig-from-Corrie lookalike who is just 21 , needed "a hug" after his pitch-perfect performance got trampled under the weight of European-wide public opinion.

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