Glorious Fails: Eurovision’s Most Spectacular ‘Nul Points’ Moments

Scoring “nul points” at Eurovision is the musical equivalent of tripping on the red carpet in front of every camera. Painful, unforgettable, and—if you’re lucky—eventually iconic. Here’s a tour of the most dazzling disasters in Eurovision history.

Norway 1978 – Jahn Teigen and the art of losing

Mil etter mil scored zero, but made Jahn Teigen a household name in Norway. Proof that charisma can outshine points—especially when there aren’t any.

Portugal 1997 – Célia Lawson’s silent storm

With Antes do adeus, Portugal delivered a sultry ballad… to absolutely no votes. The performance was subtle; the scoreboard, brutal

United Kingdom 2003 – Jemini’s technical tragedy

Cry Baby became infamous after a sound issue left the duo hopelessly out of tune. Zero points, but maximum tabloid coverage.

Germany 2015 – Ann Sophie’s Black Smoke

Slick, stylish, and inexplicably ignored. Germany’s zero-pointer was radio-ready pop that Europe collectively ghosted.

Spain 1983 – Remedios Amaya’s flamenco purity

Pure, unfiltered flamenco met a Europe that didn’t quite get it. The result: zero points, but a lifetime of respect from fans for daring to be different.

United Kingdom 2021 – James Newman’s “Embers” (aka the party Europe ghosted)

A brass-fuelled bop that brought vibes but, alas, zero from juries and zero from televoters—a clean sweep of pain. James Newman handled it like a champ, toasting the crowd live and turning a scoreboard wipe-out into a legend of British stoicism. Later, the song earned UK radio airplay, proving that a Eurovision zero doesn’t always equal cultural zero.

Moral of the story: Sometimes, Eurovision’s most memorable moments come from the ones who score nothing at all.