Bonnie Tyler: 'I did the best I could at Eurovision'

The Welsh singer said she 'did the best she could with a great song' Credit: Joerg Carstensen/DPA

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler said Eurovision 2013 was 'a night to remember' - despite the UK languishing near the bottom of the table.

The 61-year-old singer, who represented the UK with 'Believe In Me', finished 19th out of 26 acts at the Malmö Arena in Sweden with 23 points.

Bonnie fared better than veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, who came second from the bottom when he represented the UK last year in Baku, Azerbaijan.

But she failed to live up to boy-band Blue who finished in 11th place two years ago.

The last time the UK won the competition was in 1997, with 'Love Shine A Light' by Katrina And The Waves.

Bonnie's performance last night was watched by an 11,000-strong crowd and an estimated international audience of 120 million.

The singer, from Skewen, topped charts around the world in her 80s heyday, and is best known for her hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'.

Before the Eurovision final, she had told journalists earlier in the week: "I don't think it would affect my career if I didn't win, because I'm already booked up to the end of the year just about anyway.

"Of course I wouldn't like to be last, but I hope I have a respectable score. I'm not expecting to win. I hope I come somewhere respectable, like 10, 12 or something."

Bookmakers had placed her at 50/1 to claim the Eurovision title before the show.

Singer Emmelie de Forest, representing Denmark, celebrates after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Sweden Credit: Joerg Carstensen/DPA

The winning entry was Denmark's 'Only Teardrops' by Emmelie de Forest, which was bookmakers' favourite with odds of 4/6.

It topped the table with 281 points, followed by Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

Ireland's entry, the dance track 'Only Love Survives' by Ryan Dolan, came in last place with just five points.