Euro Sam hits No 2 in singles charts

SAM Ryder’s Eurovision single Space Man has gone to No 2 in the charts after his surprise success at the contest last week.

The singer, 32, was narrowly beaten to the top spot by Harry Styles’ As It Was, which secured its seventh week at No 1.

Space Man becomes the highest UK

Eurovision entry since Gina G’s chart-topping Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit in 1996 and also outperforms previous Eurovision winner Katrina & The Waves, whose 1997-winning song Love Shine A Light peaked at No 3.

Ryder’s came second at the competition in Turin, Italy, last weekend, where he topped the jury vote but came runner-up to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra after a symbolic show of public support saw them soar to first place with 631 points.

He said: “We wanted to take on this negative Eurovision stigma in the UK – this habitual loop of cynicism and telling ourselves Europe doesn’t like the UK.

“That was absolutely not the case, we don’t subscribe to that narrative whatsoever.

“The result gives strength to that idea. We’ve stripped away at the negativity and shone a bit of light in its place. Eurovision is my favourite thing in the world.

“I’m so stoked I got to be a part of this story with my friends and my team.”